Back to Report
head · noun C /hed/Full view
Nouns: head, heading, overhead
Adjectives: head, heady, overhead
Verbs: head, behead
Adverbs: overhead
head (BODY)
A1 the part of the body above the neck that contains your brain, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, etc., and on which your hair grows
Dictionary examples:

Put this hat on to keep your head warm.

He fell and hit his head on the table.

She nodded/shook her head.

Learner example:

You must wear a cap [on] your head. (Key English Test; A2; Arabic)

head (ORGANIZATION/DEPARTMENT)
B1 the person who is in charge of an organization or a part of an organization
Dictionary examples:

the head of an oil company

The head of our department is leaving on Friday.

He is the head chef at a large restaurant.

Learner example:

Joshua was the head of security of the international airport of New York. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

head (MIND)
B1 the mind and mental abilities
Dictionary examples:

All these thoughts were going through my head.

What put that (idea) into your head?

Learner example:

Since I have never been there, I imagine all the places in my head. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

lose your head
C1 to stop being calm in a difficult situation
Dictionary example:

I saw the fire and I lost my head.

Learner example:

She has never lost her head in dangerous s[i]tuations and she always knows what to do. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Polish)

keep a cool head
C2 to remain calm in a difficult situation
Dictionary example:

To be successful in business, you need to keep a cool head in negotiations.

Learner example:

Kevin managed to keep a cool head and took over the navigation. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

keep your head above water
C2 to have just enough money to live or to continue a business
Dictionary example:

With extra income from private sponsorship, the club is just about managing to keep its head above water.

Learner example:

I also started to reali[z]e how much she had on her plate, how very little help she had and how, at times, she had to struggle just like me to keep her head above water. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Dutch)

laugh/shout/scream, etc., your head off
C2 to laugh/shout/scream, etc., very much and very loudly
Dictionary example:

The show was great! I laughed my head off.

Learner example:

Other pupils were laughing their heads off as she went. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; German)

head (FRONT/TOP)
C2 the front or top part of something
Dictionary example:

Who is that at the head of the table?

Learner example:

There, at the head of the [line], her uncle with his two daughters waited for her. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

head · verb /hed/
Nouns: head, heading, overhead
Adjectives: head, heady, overhead
Verbs: head, behead
Adverbs: overhead
head back/down/for, etc.
B2 to move in a particular direction
Dictionary examples:

I was heading out of the room when she called me back.

He headed straight for the refrigerator.

We were heading toward Orlando when our truck broke down.

I think we ought to head back/home now, before it gets too dark.

Learner example:

Then I headed for the dining room. (First Certificate in English; B2; Polish)

head (LEADER)
B2 T to be in charge of a group, organization, etc.
Dictionary examples:

She heads a thriving software business.

Detective Kerry headed the investigation.

Learner example:

When Carlos headed the government, the country [saw] important changes, such as Free Trade among Canada, USA and Mexico; the selling of the banks; "democratic" elections. (First Certificate in English; B2; Spanish)

head (FRONT/TOP)
C1 T to be at the front or top of something
Dictionary example:

Jo headed a very short list of candidates.

Learner example:

When it comes to money paid to the families, Germany headed the list with 2%, follow[ed] by Spain with 0.25% and the USA with 0.2%. (International English Language Testing System; C1; Farsi)

be heading for sth
B2 to be likely to experience a bad situation soon
Dictionary examples:

They'll be heading for trouble if they're not careful.

The country is heading for a recession.

Learner example:

Mankind is heading for the future sometimes faster than we think. (First Certificate in English; B2; Portuguese)

head off
C1 to start to leave a place or begin a trip, walk, etc.
Dictionary example:

We'll head off after lunch.

Learner example:

After being snowed in, the following morning we headed off to Las Vegas. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; French)

Cambridge logo