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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

Tatiana, the Afro-Caribbean restaurant at New York’s Lincoln Center, is one of the toughest reservations in the city, thanks in part to dishes like tender Wagyu short rib and head-on shrimp drenched in Creole butter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026

A good legal brief takes on the strongest argument of the other side and deals with it head-on.

From Slate ● Sep. 15, 2026

“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

Instead of a side view, this is a slice of the brain taken head-on.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

She put her head on his chest and closed her eyes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026

He's got a very good head on his shoulders and what you don't know doesn't hurt you.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

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

You could float on your back because if you started to daydream you’d bump your head on the reef before you floated out to sea.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr

Related Words

• candidly
• honestly
• openly
• personally