Word
behead
Phoneticsbe·head, stress on the second syllable
US/biˈhɛd/
UK/bɪhˈɛd/
Definition
v. to cut off someone's head, usually as a punishment or in a fight. It is a very serious and violent word.
v. to decapitate a person or animal, typically as a form of capital punishment or in the context of combat. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Examples
“The soldiers were ordered to behead the prisoners.”
“The executioner's blade was designed to behead the condemned with a single, swift stroke, minimizing the duration of the death penalty.”
Examples
simple
“The soldiers were ordered to behead the prisoners.”
complex
“The executioner's blade was designed to behead the condemned with a single, swift stroke, minimizing the duration of the death penalty.”
Real-World Examples
“The father had threatened to behead a female primary school teacher near Toulouse.” “She also personally ordered the beheadings of two of the king’s chief counselors.” Etymology
From Middle English beheden, bihefden, biheveden, from Old English behēafdian (“to behead”), equivalent to be- (“off, away”) + head.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/behead