head-on
1 of 2adverb
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 2adjective
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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
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
adverb or adjective
ˈhed-ˈȯn,
-ˈän
: with the front hitting or facing an object
She ran head-on into a tree.
head-on
adverb
as in eyeball-to-eyeball
in direct confrontation or competition the underdog team met its more talented opponent head-on and won the hockey game through sheer grit Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- eyeball-to-eyeball
- toe-to-toe
- head-to-head
- one-on-one
- face-to-face
- mano a mano