head-to-head

American  

[hed-tuh-hed] / ˈhɛd təˈhɛd /

adjective

1. in direct confrontation, opposition, or competition.

   a head-to-head battle between the two companies.

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head-to-head British  

adjective

1. in direct competition

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noun

1. a competition involving two people, teams, etc

Etymology

Origin of head-to-head

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

Their dearth of head-to-head battles is a surprise considering the sport’s pecking order is currently Scheffler and McIlroy…and then everyone else.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

"In the head-to-head comparisons shown, the effect was in part even stronger than with a GLP-1-only drug."

From Science Daily • May 7, 2026

Jamey Millar, Novo’s executive vice president of U.S. operations, earlier told Barron’s that there was no head-to-head trial comparing the efficacy of Foundayo with the Wegovy pill.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

Mira Costa ended Redondo Union’s 18-match winning streak and evened up the league standings, but the Mustangs gained the tiebreaker by virtue of fewer sets lost head-to-head.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

And the sophomores promptly lost their next head-to-head race against the JV boat.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown