helm

¹ American  

[helm] / hɛlm /

noun

1. Nautical.

   1. a wheel or tiller by which a ship is steered.

   2. the entire steering apparatus of a ship.

   3. the angle with the fore-and-aft line made by a rudder when turned.

      15-degree helm.

2. the place or post of control.

   A stern taskmaster was at the helm of the company.

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verb (used with object)

1. to steer; direct.

helm ² American  

[helm] / hɛlm /

noun

1. Also called great helm.  Also a medieval helmet, typically formed as a single cylindrical piece with a flat or raised top, completely enclosing the head.

2. Archaic. a helmet.

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verb (used with object)

1. to furnish or cover with a helmet.

helm ¹ British  

/ hɛlm /

noun

1. nautical

   1. the wheel, tiller, or entire apparatus by which a vessel is steered

   2. the position of the helm: that is, on the side of the keel opposite from that of the rudder

2. a position of leadership or control (esp in the phrase at the helm )

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verb

1. (tr) to direct or steer

helm ² British  

/ hɛlm /

noun

1. an archaic or poetic word for helmet

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verb

1. archaic (tr) to supply with a helmet

helm Idioms  

1. see at the helm.

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Other Word Forms

• helmless adjective

Etymology

Origin of helm¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English helm(e), Old English helma; cognate with Middle High German halme, helm “handle,” Old Norse hjalm “rudder”

Origin of helm²

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch, German helm; akin to Old English helan “to cover”; hull ¹

Example Sentences

He held senior roles at Fiat, ran Alfa Romeo and SEAT, and eventually took the helm at Renault.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

She is taking the helm of a roughly 60-person marketing department at Babylist as the company eyes a possible public listing as early as 2027, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

He has taken charge of Atletico Madrid on 786 occasions, recording 465 wins, 170 draws and 151 defeats across more than 14 and a half seasons at the helm.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

I spent 17 years at the helm of the California Air Resources Board, and I am deeply disturbed by the potential co-opting of public input processes using forgery through automated tools.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Then one rode forward, a tall man, taller than all the rest; from his helm as a crest a white horsetail flowed.

From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien