forehead

American  

[fawr-id, for-, fawr-hed, for-] / ˈfɔr ɪd, ˈfɒr-, ˈfɔrˌhɛd, ˈfɒr- /

noun

1. the part of the face above the eyebrows; brow.

2. the fore or front part of anything.

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forehead British  

/ ˈfɔːˌhɛd, ˈfɒrɪd /

noun

1. the part of the face between the natural hairline and the eyes, formed skeletally by the frontal bone of the skull; brow

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Etymology

Origin of forehead

before 1000; Middle English forehe ( v ) ed, Old English forhēafod. See fore-, head

Explanation

Your forehead is the top part of your face, just below your hairline and above your eyebrows. If you have long bangs, they cover up most of your forehead. You can also call your forehead your "brow." It's important for communication, since the forehead helps people express basic emotions — muscles in your forehead control the movement of your eyebrows, which help you express concern and anger, among other feelings. Forehead has the Old English roots fore, "the front part," and heafod, "top of the body," or "head."

Example Sentences

That afternoon in 2025, with his shellacked coif flapping against his bronzed forehead in the wind, the president held up hastily-assembled poster boards bearing the names of the world’s countries and territories.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

He described how there was a reddening of the skin around Noah's forehead as well as "extensive maceration and peeling" of his hands and feet.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

“Maybe we take a break from spending the night at Taylor’s,” he said, as several veins bulged out of his forehead.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

I pressed my forehead to the glass and counted palm trees to slow my heart.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

And grabbed by an exhausted man with a scar on his forehead and a two.week-old beard.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr