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come to a head

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˌkʌm tu ə ˈhɛd/ · UK /ˌkʌm tu ə ˈhed/

come to a head means: To reach a serious point when a problem must be dealt with or something important happens.

verb

REACH CRISISC1

To reach a serious point when a problem must be dealt with or something important happens.

  • The dispute came to a head yesterday.
  • Tensions came to a head when the workers went on strike.
  • The crisis will come to a head at tomorrow’s meeting.

Similar words: reach a climax, reach a crisis

Common phrases: come to a head, come to a head

BECOME APPARENTC2

To suddenly become clear or visible after being hidden for some time.

  • His hidden anger finally came to a head.
  • Years of resentment came to a head in one furious outburst.
  • Her unspoken frustration came to a head during dinner.

Similar words: surface, emerge

Common phrases: come to a head, come to a head

REACH FINAL STAGEC2

To reach the last stage of a process or development.

  • The negotiations are coming to a head.
  • Months of preparation came to a head with the final rehearsal.
  • The long selection process came to a head with a final vote.

Similar words: culminate, reach its conclusion

Common phrases: come to a head, come to a head

TAKE FINAL SHAPEC2

To suddenly become fully developed or clearly formed after a period of gradual development.

  • His ideas finally came to a head.
  • After months of thought, her vision came to a head in a clear plan.
  • The design came to a head after years of experiments.

Similar words: mature, take shape

Common phrases: come to a head, come to a head

Questions about come to a head

What does come to a head mean?

To reach a serious point when a problem must be dealt with or something important happens.

What is come to a head in other languages?

Türkçe: kritik noktaya gelmek · Español: llegar a un punto crítico · Français: atteindre un point critique · Deutsch: sich zuspitzen · Italiano: giungere a un punto critico · 日本語: 山場を迎える

How do you pronounce come to a head?

In American English /ˌkʌm tu ə ˈhɛd/; in British English /ˌkʌm tu ə ˈhed/.

How do you use come to a head in a sentence?

The dispute came to a head yesterday. Tensions came to a head when the workers went on strike.

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come to a head in other languages

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