head-on

1 of 2

adverb

ˈhed-ˈȯn 

-ˈän

1

: with the head or front making the initial contact

the cars collided head-on

2

: in direct opposition, confrontation, or contradiction

met the problem head-on

head-on

2 of 2

adjective

1

: having the front facing in the direction of initial contact or line of sight

a head-on collision

2

: frontal sense 2b

a head-on confrontation

Synonyms

Adverb

• eyeball-to-eyeball
• face-to-face
• head-to-head
• mano a mano
• one-on-one
• toe-to-toe

Examples of head-on in a Sentence

Adverb

the underdog team met its more talented opponent head-on and won the hockey game through sheer grit

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

According to the paper, head-on impacts by interplanetary shocks result in stronger currents due to a greater degree of magnetic field compression, with the highest peaks in currents being recorded at magnetic midnight, when the North Pole was between the sun and Mäntsälä. —David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024

In stark contrast, Monday’s donor call featured President Biden himself unexpectedly engaging in unscripted Q&A, greeting longtime friends warmly while tackling difficult questions head-on. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 9 July 2024

Adjective

Raquel Leviss will be addressing her actions head-on. —Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2023

Many of its rivals are also racing head-on into the EV market. —Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 20 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

head-on

adjective

-ˈȯn,

-ˈän

: having the head or front facing forward : front to front

a head-on collision