head
head
Pronunciation
head /hɛd/
Syllable 1: /hɛd/
/h/ - voiceless glottal fricative
/ɛ/ - open-mid front unrounded vowel
/d/ - voiced alveolar plosive
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 simple): headed
Verb (past participle): headed
Adjective: head (e.g., "head start")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
The uppermost part of the human body, or the foremost or upper part of the body of an animal, containing the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
Synonyms: cranium, skull, pate (informal), noddle (informal)
Antonyms: foot, tail (for animals)
The leader, chief, or person in charge of an organization, group, or department.
Synonyms: chief, director, principal, boss, commander, leader
Antonyms: subordinate, follower, employee, minion
The front or top part of something, or the part that is most prominent or important.
Synonyms: top, apex, front, peak, summit, crest
Antonyms: bottom, base, rear, back
A mental capacity or aptitude for something; intelligence or ability.
Synonyms: intellect, mind, brains, cleverness, acumen
Antonyms: dullness, ignorance, stupidity
The foamy top on a glass of beer or other carbonated beverage.
Synonyms: foam, froth, suds
Antonyms: (No common antonyms)
Verb
To move in a specified direction; to proceed or go toward a particular place.
Synonyms: proceed, go, advance, move, make for, aim for
Antonyms: retreat, turn back, stop, delay
To be in charge of or lead an organization, group, or project.
Synonyms: lead, direct, manage, command, govern, oversee
Antonyms: follow, obey, serve, assist
To hit (a ball) with one's head. (Common in sports like soccer)
Synonyms: (No direct synonyms in this specific context)
Antonyms: (No common antonyms)
Adjective
Principal, chief, or leading in importance. (Often used in compound nouns)
Synonyms: main, primary, principal, chief, leading, dominant
Antonyms: minor, secondary, subordinate, lesser
Examples of Use
Books
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee: "Jem's face was white. His usually ruddy complexion had paled to a ghastly hue. He headed for the house without a word." (Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird) - Here, "headed" is used as a verb meaning to move in a specified direction.
"The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien: "Frodo felt the Ring about his neck, a great weight that seemed to head him down into the earth." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring) - Here, "head" is used as a verb indicating a force driving something downward.
"Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari: "The human head is large, and it takes a lot of energy to power it." (Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind) - Here, "head" is used as a noun referring to the anatomical part.
Newspapers
"The central bank heads into a crucial meeting next week, with inflation concerns weighing heavily on its agenda." (The New York Times) - Here, "heads" is used as a verb meaning to proceed or go toward.
"Concerns about the escalating conflict continue to head the international diplomatic agenda." (The Guardian) - Here, "head" is used as a verb meaning to be in charge of or lead, specifically leading an agenda.
"The company announced a new head of product development, effective immediately." (The Wall Street Journal) - Here, "head" is used as a noun meaning the leader or person in charge.
Online Publications
"Google's AI division is looking to head off potential regulatory challenges with a new transparency initiative." (TechCrunch) - Here, "head off" is a phrasal verb meaning to prevent or intercept.
"Elon Musk's latest tweet raised a few heads among investors, causing a slight dip in Tesla's stock." (The Verge) - Here, "heads" is used informally to refer to people or their attention.
"Experts are scratching their heads over the unexpected surge in consumer spending." (NPR.org) - Here, "scratching their heads" is an idiom meaning to be puzzled or perplexed.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
TV Show - "Succession" (HBO): "Logan Roy is the head of Waystar RoyCo, a powerful media conglomerate." (Dialogue from Succession, HBO) - Here, "head" is used as a noun meaning the leader.
Movie - "Inception": "We need to plant an idea deep inside his head." (Dialogue from Inception) - Here, "head" refers to the mind or intellect.
Song Lyric - "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen: "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality. Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see. I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy. Because I'm easy come, easy go, little high, little low. Any way the wind blows doesn't really matter to me, to me. Mama, just killed a man, Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger, now he's dead." (Lyrics from "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen) - Here, "head" is used as a noun referring to the anatomical part.
Video Game - "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim": "You must head to Whiterun to report to the Jarl." (Quest objective in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim) - Here, "head" is used as a verb meaning to go to a place.
General Public Discourse
Conversation: "I'm going to head home now, I'm exhausted." - Here, "head" is used as a verb meaning to go to a place.
Sports Commentary (Football/Soccer): "Ronaldo rises highest to head the ball into the net!" - Here, "head" is used as a verb meaning to strike the ball with one's head.
Meeting Agenda: "The first item on the agenda will head the discussion." - Here, "head" is used as a verb meaning to be the first or most important part.
News Report (local): "The city council head announced new plans for urban development." - Here, "head" is used as a noun meaning the leader.
10 Famous Quotes Using Head
"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." (William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 2)
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." (Socrates, often paraphrased as "The unexamined life is not worth living," and related to the idea of an open head or mind)
"Two heads are better than one." (Proverb)
"Knowledge is power." (Francis Bacon, implying power residing in the head or mind)
"A sound mind in a sound body." (Juvenal, Satire X, connecting the head with physical well-being)
"Keep your head when all about you / Are losing theirs and blaming it on you." (Rudyard Kipling, "If—")
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." (William Ernest Henley, "Invictus," speaks to the individual's control over their own head and destiny)
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." (Laozi, a quote that emphasizes empowering the individual's head with skills)
"The best way to predict the future is to create it." (Peter Drucker, a quote about active, intentional thought from the head)
"The head of the family is the one who puts food on the table." (Traditional saying, varying by culture but common in general discourse)
Etymology
The word "head" has a long and interesting history, going all the way back to the very roots of the English language and even further!
In simple terms, "head" comes from an Old English word, "hēafod." This Old English word was already used to mean what we mostly think of today: the top part of the body that contains the brain, face, and main sense organs. So, the core meaning of the word has been around for a very long time.
But its history doesn't stop there. "Hēafod" itself comes from an even older language called Proto-Germanic, which is the ancestor of English, German, Dutch, and other similar languages. In Proto-Germanic, the word was "haubudą."
And even before that, linguists trace it back to a super-old language called Proto-Indo-European (PIE), where the word was "káput." This PIE root is also why we have words like "capital," "captain," and "chief" in English, as they all share that same ancient "head" meaning.
So, to summarize:
First known use and meaning: The word "head" has been used in English since the Old English period (before 1150 AD), and even then, its primary meaning was the anatomical head – the top part of a person's or animal's body.
Over time, this core meaning expanded to include other "top" or "leading" things, like the "head" of a company, the "head" of a river (its source), or the "head" of a table. It's a very old word that has kept its main sense while branching out to cover many related ideas.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Head
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "head":
Off the top of my head: From memory, without careful thought.
To head up: To lead or manage.
To get your head around something: To understand something complex.
To keep a cool head: To remain calm in a difficult situation.
To bite someone's head off: To respond angrily and sharply to someone.
To bury your head in the sand: To ignore or avoid a problem.
To go over someone's head: To appeal to a higher authority, or to be too difficult for someone to understand.
To bang your head against a brick wall: To try to do something that is pointless or impossible.
To turn someone's head: To make someone conceited or arrogant.
To make neither head nor tail of something: To be unable to understand something at all.
To hit the nail on the head: To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.
To put your heads together: To collaborate or work together to solve a problem.
To lose your head: To panic or lose control of your emotions.
To head out: To leave a place.
To come to a head: To reach a crisis or a decisive point.
To be head over heels (in love): To be deeply in love.
To give someone their head: To allow someone to do what they want without interference.
To be a level-headed person: To be sensible and practical.
To have your head in the clouds: To be daydreaming or impractical.
To make head against: To make progress despite opposition.
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.
