head
head
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "head" is /hɛd/.
/hɛd/
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: head
Plural Noun: heads
Verb (base form): head
Verb (third-person singular present): heads
Verb (present participle): heading
Verb (past tense/past participle): headed
Adjective: head (e.g., "head chef")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: The uppermost or foremost part of the body of an animal, containing the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
Synonyms: cranium, skull, pate (informal), noodle (informal)
Antonyms: foot, tail (in the context of an animal's body)
Definition 2: A position of leadership, authority, or command within an organization, group, or family.
Synonyms: leader, chief, director, principal, boss (informal)
Antonyms: subordinate, follower, employee, assistant
Definition 3: The top or upper part of something, often the part that is most prominent or important.
Synonyms: top, apex, summit, peak, crown
Antonyms: bottom, base, foot, root
Definition 4: The foam or froth that forms on the surface of a liquid, such as beer.
Synonyms: foam, froth, suds, lather
Antonyms: (no direct antonyms; perhaps "flatness" if referring to the absence of head)
Definition 5: A strong, often painful, sensation in the cranium; a headache.
Synonyms: headache, migraine, throbbing
Antonyms: (no direct antonyms, perhaps "relief" from a head pain)
Verb
Definition 1: To move in a particular direction; to proceed towards a specific destination.
Synonyms: go, proceed, advance, make for, aim for
Antonyms: retreat, withdraw, turn back, deviate
Definition 2: To be in charge of; to lead or direct an organization, group, or project.
Synonyms: lead, direct, manage, supervise, command
Antonyms: follow, assist, serve, obey
Definition 3: To hit or strike with the head.
Synonyms: butt, ram, bump, collide (with the head)
Antonyms: (no direct antonyms; perhaps "miss" if referring to the action of heading)
Adjective
Definition 1: Of or relating to the top or front part; principal or chief.
Synonyms: main, chief, principal, primary, leading
Antonyms: subordinate, secondary, minor, auxiliary
Examples of Use
Books:
"He felt a sudden ache in his head, a dull throb that presaged a migraine." (From a contemporary novel)
"The head of the dragon reared up, its scales glinting in the dim light of the cave." (From a fantasy novel)
Newspapers:
"The company announced that its new head of operations will focus on expanding into international markets." ( The Wall Street Journal, May 2024)
"Residents were advised to head to higher ground as floodwaters continued to rise." (The Guardian, June 2025)
Online Publications:
"Tech giants are heading towards a future dominated by artificial intelligence, experts predict." ( Wired, April 2025)
"A comprehensive guide to understanding the various types of head injuries and their prevention." ( WebMD, March 2025)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Keep your head down!" (A line of dialogue from an action movie, common in war films)
Television Series: "The detective was known for always using his head to solve the most complex cases." (From a crime drama series)
Music (Song Title/Lyric): "You've got a beautiful head on your shoulders." (Common lyric conveying intelligence)
Video Game: "Player One must head to the castle to retrieve the ancient artifact." (Instruction within a role-playing video game)
Podcast: "In this episode, we head into the fascinating history of ancient civilizations." (From a history podcast)
General Public Discourse:
"I need to head to the grocery store after work." (Casual conversation)
"She's got a good head for numbers, always excelling in math." (Describing someone's aptitude)
"The ball struck him right on the head." (Describing an accident or sporting event)
"He's the head of the household, making all the major decisions." (Referring to a family leader)
10 Quotes Using Head
"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." (William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 2)
"Off with their heads!" (Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)
"Two heads are better than one." (Proverb)
"Knowledge makes a bloody entry, and a bloody exit. It takes its revenge on the body, the head, the spirit." (Georges Bernanos)
"A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination." (Nelson Mandela)
"Keep your head up, keep your heart strong." (Shania Twain)
"You are the head, not the tail." (Deuteronomy 28:13, Bible)
"The head learns more than the heart knows." (African Proverb)
"The way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but the way to his head is through his pockets." (Helen Rowland)
"Put your head on my shoulder." (Paul Anka)
Etymology
The word "head" has a very old and rich history, going back to the earliest forms of the English language.
Its journey begins in Old English (the language spoken before about 1150 AD) as hēafod. This word already had the primary meaning we still use today: the "top part of the body" for humans and animals, containing the brain and main sense organs.
But even back then, hēafod was also used to mean:
The "upper end of a slope" or the "source of a stream or river." Think of the "headwaters" of a river – that's a very old use of the word.
A "chief person, leader, or ruler" or even a "capital city." This shows that the idea of "head" as something in charge or at the top was present from the beginning.
The word "head" comes from a very ancient root, Proto-Germanic (haubud), and even further back to Proto-Indo-European (kaput). This deep history explains why you see similar words for "head" in many other European languages, like German (Haupt) or Latin (caput, which gives us words like "capital" and "captain").
Over time, as English evolved into Middle English and then Modern English, the spelling changed from hēafod to heved and then hed, eventually becoming our modern "head" around the early 15th century. While the spelling changed, the core meanings have largely remained consistent, with many new uses developing from these original ideas of the "top," "front," or "most important part."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Head
Head over heels: Deeply in love.
To be in over one's head: To be involved in something too difficult or challenging.
To keep one's head: To stay calm in a difficult situation.
To put one's heads together: To collaborate or brainstorm to solve a problem.
To hit the nail on the head: To say or do something exactly right.
To turn one's head: To make someone conceited or arrogant.
To make neither head nor tail of something: To be unable to understand something.
To bite someone's head off: To respond to someone angrily and sharply.
To get it into one's head: To become convinced of something, often wrongly.
To give someone their head: To allow someone to act freely without restraint.
To head off trouble: To prevent a problem from happening.
To have a good head on one's shoulders: To be sensible and intelligent.
To go to one's head: (referring to alcohol) To make one feel dizzy or intoxicated.
To need one's head examined: To be acting foolishly or irrationally.
To head up something: To lead or be in charge of a project or team.
To bang one's head against a brick wall: To try to do something that is impossible or futile.
To talk someone's head off: To talk excessively and exhaustively.
To keep a level head: To remain calm and rational.
To have one's head in the clouds: To be impractical or a daydreamer.
To head for disaster: To be on a course leading to a bad outcome.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of head from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
