head up
Definition
- Verb:
- To lead or be in charge of a group, organization, or activity: To assume the top position of responsibility and direction.
- To be at the front or top of something: To be positioned as the foremost part or leading element.
Usage
- The verb "head up" is transitive and typically followed by the object being led (e.g., a team, department, project).
- It implies active leadership and management, not just titular membership.
- It is often used in professional, organizational, and project-based contexts.
Examples
- Verb:
- She was asked to head up the new research division.
- A former general will head up the charity's disaster relief efforts.
- The committee is headed up by three senior professors.
Advanced Usage
- "to head up an initiative/task force": To lead a specific, often temporary, project or group formed for a particular purpose.
- He headed up the initiative to reduce plastic waste on campus.
Variants and Related Words
- Head (verb): A simpler form with a similar meaning of leading or being in charge (e.g., ). "Head up" can sometimes emphasize the act of taking on or establishing the leadership role.
- Headed (adjective): Often used in compounds to describe direction or leadership (e.g., ). This is a related form but not the target phrase.
Synonyms
- Lead: To be in charge or command of.
- Direct: To manage or guide the operations of.
- Chair: To preside over (a meeting or committee).
- Spearhead: To lead an initiative or attack, often implying being at the forefront.
Phrasal Verbs
- Head up is itself a phrasal verb. Its components are not typically separated in standard usage (e.g., "head the team up" is less common than "head up the team").
Related Idioms
- To be at the head of: To be the leader of. This is a prepositional phrase with a meaning very close to "head up."
- She is at the head of the class.
Verb
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be the first or leading member of (a group) and excel
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This student heads the class
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