helm

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
a
: a lever or wheel controlling the rudder of a ship for steering
broadly : the entire apparatus for steering a ship
b
: position of the helm with respect to the amidships position
turn the helm hard alee
2
: a position of control : head
a new dean is at the helm of the medical school

helm

2 of 4

verb (1)

helmed; helming; helms

transitive verb

1
: to direct (a ship) with a lever or wheel that controls the rudder : to direct (a ship) with or as if with a helm (see helm entry 1 sense 1a) : steer
helming a schooner
2
: direct, control
the director has helmed many action movies

helm

3 of 4

noun (2)

helm

4 of 4

verb (2)

helmed; helming; helms

transitive verb

: to cover or furnish with a helmet

Examples of helm in a Sentence

Noun (1) with a blind person at the helm, the city has made a lot of improvements for the physically challenged Verb (1) a treacherous route for any weekend sailor just learning to helm his vessel
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Perhaps best known as the founder of A Bathing Ape and a streetwear pioneer in Japan, Nigo assumed the creative helm of Kenzo in September 2021. Miles Socha, WWD, 17 Jan. 2025 Trudeau’s exit complicates things for Canada Trudeau, who has been at Canada’s helm for nearly a decade, announced his forthcoming resignation as prime minister Monday after mounting internal frustration and problematic polls for the ruling Liberal Party. Julia Mueller, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
In addition to football, Mr. Medhurst helmed play-by-play duties on the radio on men’s and women’s basketball and men’s and women’s lacrosse and handled other varsity sports that aired on ESPN+. Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2025 Health and Human Services secretary: RFK Jr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who ran an independent bid for president in 2024 before endorsing Trump, is on tap to helm the Health and Human Services Department. Julia Mueller, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for helm 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb (1)

Middle English helme, from Old English helma; akin to Old High German helmo tiller

Noun (2) and Verb (2)

Middle English, from Old English

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of helm was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near helm

Cite this Entry

“Helm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/helm. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

helm

1 of 2 noun

helm

2 of 2 noun
1
: a lever or wheel controlling the rudder of a ship
also : the steering equipment of a ship
2
: a position of control : head
at the helm of the business

More from Merriam-Webster on helm

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