# behead

/biˈhɛd/ (US) · /bɪhˈɛd/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/behead
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

to cut off someone's head, usually as a punishment or in a fight. It is a very serious and violent word.

For teachers: 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.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.