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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]

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.

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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

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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 .

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Etymology

Origin of head-on

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

head-on head on

“They’re entering a labor market that is increasingly challenging for entry-level roles in light of AI … and facing head-on a massive affordability challenge.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

What Monica did, following her instincts, at dinner, I started to do on the page — confront the uncomfortable head-on.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

A police force is being given an extra £2m after a spate of crimes followed the death of two police officers and five men in a head-on crash, the home secretary has announced.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

During those meetings he was known for tackling questions head-on, with a sardonic sense of humour.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

We’d taken a detour past all right and crashed head-on into my-life-is-officially-over territory.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

In commentary published late Thursday, Lee, the usually bullish head of research at Fundstrat, addresses the inflation issue head on.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026

Do I have a sandbag to rest my head on while all this melee is happening around me?'

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

Things came to a head on tour, where her stage fright went into overdrive and she suffered "just terrible, terrible anxiety".

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

Instead of avoiding controversy, he frequently addresses it head on.

From Salon ● Aug. 2, 2026

Nathan sat up and lay his head on her shoulder.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Related Words

• candidly
• honestly
• openly
• personally