Skip to main content
to helm

to helm

8 6.6
To steer a ship or lead an organization
  • verb
  • /hɛlm/
translation icon : dirigir
  • He was excited to helm the project team, guiding them towards their goals and deadlines.
  • director who helmed
  • movie she helmed
  • restaurant helmed

But like, who would you rather have helming this thing right now?

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • But I mean, you helmed the world's leading university for a number of years.

  • After many successful years, she was chosen to helm the new marketing initiative at the company.

  • But like, who would you rather have helming this thing right now?

  • Western Friend, the organization you helmed for twelve years, continues to publish books every year or two.

    Blog text (14)
  • Second, I'm perfectly fine with Brad Bird helming anything STAR WARS if that comes to pass.

    Blog text (22)
  • Shortly after the show ended, Bledsoe helmed her own self-titled talk show.

    Blog text (12)
  • Commercial director Justin Reardon will helm the film from a Black List script by Christ Shafer and Paul Vicknair.

    Blog text (32)
  • Warner Bros.' Argo, an Iranian hostage drama that he helmed, is an early leader in the awards race.

    Blog text (18)
  • Greg Metcalf helmed the women's cross-country team to its first national title in 2008.

    Blog text (14)
  • The captain will helm the ship during its journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

Synonyms

to head
vsto helm
465 2.9

To be in charge of a group or organization

emphasizes the action of steering or guiding overall direction
to head up
vsto helm
59 3.9

To lead a group or team

highlights steering or directing, not only general leadership
at the helm
vsto helm
39 4.2

In charge of a group or organization

focuses on actively steering or directing rather than just holding position
to take the helm
vsto helm
12 4.4

To lead an organization, group, or project

refers more to being in steady control rather than the act of assuming it
to hold the reins
vsto helm
  • Informal
3 4.9

To be in control of a group or business

focuses on steering leadership rather than daily hands on management
to skipper
vsto helm
2 5.5

To be in charge of a ship or boat

applies to steering or leading both ships and organizations

Antonyms

773 3.1

Leave someone or something behind permanently and without care

17 4.8

To run something badly so it fails or causes problems

Idioms

39 4.2

In charge of a group or organization

To lead an organization, group, or project

How Controlling

to command
307 2.7
to lead
1.0
to helm
8 6.6
to steer
224 1.6
to guide
313 1.0

Surface Forms

helm infinitive
helmed past
helmed past participle
helming present participle
helms third person singular

Etymology

Helm as a verb comes from the noun helm (the ship's steering part), which is the same root as helmet. To 'take the helm' is to take the steering place, so to helm something is to steer or direct a ship or an organization. So helm means to be in control or leadership.