English Reference
noun

forehead

n.
US /ˈfɔɹhɛd/ UK /fˈɔːhɛd/ fore·head UK spelling forehead's, forehead's

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    the part of your face that is above your eyes and below your hair.

    the anatomical region of the face situated between the eyebrows and the hairline.

    Simple

    He wiped the sweat from his forehead after finishing the long run.

    In context

    The doctor placed a cool hand on the child's forehead to check for a fever before reaching for the thermometer.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced InformalTechnical Computing

    the top part of a mobile phone or tablet above the screen.

    the upper portion of a smartphone or tablet bezel, typically housing the front camera and sensors.

    Simple

    Modern phones have very thin foreheads to make the screen look bigger.

    In context

    The latest flagship model eliminates the forehead entirely by hiding the proximity sensors and camera beneath the display panel.

    Usage

    Often paired with 'chin' to describe the bottom bezel of a device.

    top bezel
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency LiteraryArchaic

    a lot of confidence or being rude in a brave way.

    audacity, impudence, or shameless confidence.

    Simple

    He had the forehead to ask for a raise after being late every day.

    In context

    The young clerk had the forehead to challenge the senior partner's legal interpretation during the open meeting.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is very rare in modern speech; learners should use 'nerve' or 'audacity' instead.


From Middle English forhed, forheed, from Old English forehēafod, from Proto-West Germanic *forēhaubid, corresponding to fore- + head. Cognate with Scots foreheid (“forehead”), Dutch voorhoofd (“forehead”), German Vorhaupt (“forehead”), Danish forhoved (“brow; forehead; face”). Compare also West Frisian foarholle (“forehead”), German Low German Vörkopp (“forehead”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin gmw-pro *forēhaubid
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated