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Meaning & use

a head-on collision

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌhed.ɒn kəˈlɪʒ.ən/
US/ˌhed.ɑːn kəˈlɪʒ.ən/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A crash in which two vehicles hit each other while moving toward each other, front to front.

    Grammar: Countable: a head-on collision, two head-on collisions. The adjective head-on comes before the noun.

    Patterns

    • be in a head-on collision
    • a head-on collision between two vehicles
    • a head-on collision with something

    Two drivers were hurt in a head-on collision on the highway.

    The truck swerved and had a head-on collision with a bus.

    Police say the fog caused a head-on collision near the bridge.

  2. nouncountablefigurative

    A serious direct disagreement or fight between two people, groups, or ideas.

    Grammar: Countable and often figurative; frequently followed by between or with.

    Patterns

    • a head-on collision between two sides
    • a head-on collision with someone
    • avoid a head-on collision

    The meeting turned into a head-on collision between the two managers.

    The new law led to a head-on collision with local leaders.

    They tried to avoid a head-on collision over the budget.

Word forms

pluralhead-on collisions

Common combinations

be killed in a head-on collision
Sadly, the passenger was killed in a head-on collision.
a head-on collision between two cars
The news reported a head-on collision between two cars.
a head-on collision with a truck
Her small car had a head-on collision with a truck.
a head-on collision course
The two countries seemed to be on a head-on collision course.
survive a head-on collision
He was lucky to survive a head-on collision.

Synonyms and how they differ

front-end crash
More general; it can describe damage to the front of one vehicle without saying both were moving toward each other.
smash-up
Informal and often about a bad crash, but it does not always mean the vehicles met head-on.

Opposites

rear-end collisionsideswipe

Word family

head-on adjective
Direct and front-first, as in a head-on crash or a head-on attack.
collide verb
To hit something while moving, as in The cars collided.

Commonly confused: a head-on collision or rear-end collision?

a head-on collision vs rear-end collision

A rear-end collision is when one vehicle hits the back of another; a head-on collision is front to front.

Practice

The two cars met in ______ on the narrow road.

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