headboard

American  

[hed-bawrd, -bohrd] / ˈhɛdˌbɔrd, -ˌboʊrd /

noun

• headboards
  plural

1. a board forming the head of anything, especially of a bed.

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headboard British  

/ ˈhɛdˌbɔːd /

noun

1. a vertical board or terminal at the head of a bed

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• headboards
  plural

Etymology

Origin of headboard

First recorded in 1720–30; head + board

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

headboard headboards

Wearing glasses and her hair pulled back in a top-knot, and backed by a tall headboard, Applegate grows more enthusiastic when the conversation turns to a lighter topic: reality TV.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 3, 2026

His niece, the daughter of Ms Nazarova, was also in the house and had to be rescued by firefighters after a headboard was placed to block her door.

From BBC ● Jan. 26, 2026

The task of obtaining a headboard we'd bought on Facebook Marketplace, for example, involved the following:

From Salon ● Mar. 29, 2025

Basically, what that means is you lie on your bed and put your legs up against the headboard.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2024

In the morning, Connor blinks and rolls over and stretches his arms, his small knuckles grazing the headboard behind his mountain of pillows.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day

The bed-frame options come with walnut wood-trim headboards, satin or velvet upholstery and bullion fringe around the base.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 2024

The prefecture’s giant timber bamboo was used for headboards and sofas.

From New York Times ● Sep. 27, 2022

But let's face it, not all headboards are created equal.

From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2022

While it looks like one of those fancy headboards with built-in shelves, Sleep Number says it was built to support sleep health and make its beds more accessible.

From The Verge ● Jan. 3, 2022

I bet they had matching floral bedspreads with heart-shaped throw pillows and pictures of rock stars taped on their headboards.

From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor