forehead

noun

fore·​head ˈfȯr-ˌhed How to pronounce forehead (audio) ˈfär-əd How to pronounce forehead (audio) ˈfȯr-əd How to pronounce forehead (audio)
also ˈfȯr-ˌed
Synonyms of foreheadnext
1
: the part of the face above the eyes
2
: the front or forepart of something
… flames in the forehead of the morning sky …—John Milton

Synonyms of forehead

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of forehead in a Sentence

the forehead of the ancient temple features a frieze of dramatically posed figures
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His chubby forehead was creased, and a sort of hunted look darkened his eyes. — Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026 For Gabriela Hearst’s display silver-color, foil-like adornments spotted a few foreheads. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 The causes of acne can vary Teenage acne tends to affect the forehead, nose and cheeks. — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 In the video, part of Allen's face is bloodied, from his forehead down his face and neck, with blood appearing on his hand as well. — ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for forehead

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of forehead was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing forehead

Browse Nearby Words

forehand rent
forehead
foreheaded
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Forehead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forehead. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

forehead

noun
fore·​head ˈfär-əd How to pronounce forehead (audio) ˈfȯr- How to pronounce forehead (audio)
ˈfō(ə)r-ˌhed, 
ˈfȯ(ə)r-
: the part of the face above the eyes

Medical Definition

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All