# behead

> English word · Verb · IPA /bɪˈhɛd/ · frequency rank #41,011

## Definitions
1. To deliberately remove the head of; to cut off (someone's) head.

## Etymology
From Middle English beheden, bihefden, biheveden, from Old English behēafdian (“to behead”), equivalent to be- (“off, away”) + head.

## Easily confused with
- **bread** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/behead-vs-bread)
- **behind** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/behead-vs-behind)
- **behold** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/behead-vs-behold)
- **behest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/behead-vs-behest)
- **beheaded** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/behead-vs-beheaded)
- **bead** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bead-vs-behead)

## Common misspellings (8)
`bbehead`, `beehad`, `behaed`, `beheadd`, `beheda`, `behhead`, `bheead`, `ebhead`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/behead