Meaning & use
head-on collision
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A crash in which two vehicles hit each other front to front.
Grammar: Countable: a head-on collision, two head-on collisions. The hyphen is kept before a noun.
Patterns
- a head-on collision with something
- be involved in a head-on collision
The two cars were in a head-on collision on the highway.
He survived a head-on collision with a truck.
The road was closed after a head-on collision near the bridge.
nouncountablefigurative
A serious disagreement or conflict in which two sides meet directly.
Grammar: Used figuratively, often with 'with'.
Patterns
- a head-on collision between two things
- a head-on collision with something
The new law led to a head-on collision between the government and the courts.
Their opinions were in a head-on collision during the debate.
Word forms
| plural | head-on collisions |
|---|
Common combinations
- a head-on collision with a truck
- The bus had a head-on collision with a truck.
- be killed in a head-on collision
- Sadly, the driver was killed in a head-on collision.
- avoid a head-on collision
- The pilot turned sharply to avoid a head-on collision.
Synonyms and how they differ
- crash
- A general word for any accident involving vehicles; 'head-on collision' specifies the direction of the impact.
- smash-up
- Informal and often suggests serious damage, but does not specify that the vehicles hit front to front.
Commonly confused: head-on collision or rear-end collision?
head-on collision vs rear-end collision
A rear-end collision is when one vehicle hits the back of another, not the front.
Practice
The two buses were involved in a ___ collision on the narrow road.
Choose one answer.
The adjective is written with a hyphen: 'head-on collision'. Without the hyphen, 'head on' would be an adverb phrase, and 'headon' is not a standard spelling.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “head-on collision”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.