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  • head-on
    head-on
    adjective
    (of two objects) meeting with the fronts or heads foremost.
  • head on
    head on

    With the face or front first, as in The two bicycles collided head on . [Early 1800s]

Synonyms

head-on

American  
[hed-on, -awn] / ˈhɛdˈɒn, -ˈɔn /

adjective

  1. (of two objects) meeting with the fronts or heads foremost.

    a head-on collision.

  2. facing the direction of forward motion or alignment; frontal.

  3. characterized by direct opposition.

    a head-on confrontation.

adverb

  1. with the front or head foremost, especially in a collision.

    She stepped out of the front door and walked head-on into her husband.
head-on British  

adverb

  1. with the front or fronts foremost

    a head-on collision

  2. with directness or without compromise

    in his usual head-on fashion
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
head on Idioms  

  1. With the face or front first, as in The two bicycles collided head on . [Early 1800s]

  2. In direct conflict, in open opposition, as in They decided to meet the opposition head on .

Etymology

Origin of head-on

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They dropped or missed five clear chances overall, the most costly being wicketkeeper Jamie Smith's drop of Head on three and Ben Duckett shelling Alex Carey on nought.

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025

The hosts resumed day four at Adelaide Oval at 271-4 with Head on 142 and first-innings century-maker Carey not out 52.

From Barron's • Dec. 20, 2025

Lewis would not have considered “A Head on Her Shoulders” a good children’s story.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Australia's bowlers backed up a majestic century from Travis Head on his home ground to put the hosts in a strong position to win the second Test against India.

From BBC • Dec. 7, 2024

Elliot Head, on the previous night, had barely covered his costs.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.