headspace

noun

head·​space ˈhed-ˌspās How to pronounce headspace (audio)
1
: the volume above a liquid or solid in a closed container
The demonstrator suggests that the slow leakage of hydrogen from the balloons … allowed for the accumulation of hydrogen and oxygen in the bag's headspace.Chemical and Engineering News
To process sauce, immediately ladle hot sauce into hot, clean half-pint canning jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace.Better Homes and Gardens
2
: vertical space in which to stand, sit, or move : headroom
The sleeping area [of a tiny house] looks restful and thanks to the curved roof, probably has more headspace than most …Kimberly Mok
3
informal : mind-set, frame of mind
"It's difficult to tell how people have changed," says Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien. "But Thom's been in a better headspace for quite a few years."Brian Raftery

Examples of headspace in a Sentence

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.
But with time, the actor has learned to communicate decades of regret and the darkest emotional headspace with barely a flicker of his face. David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 June 2025 But to have both happening simultaneously, literally… there are some actors who might consider that a bit of a nightmare, too, to have to be in two headspaces at once. Chris Willman, Variety, 4 June 2025 Tell me about getting into the headspace of your character. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2025 That put me in a great headspace as a producer as well. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for headspace

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of headspace was in 1895

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Cite this Entry

“Headspace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headspace. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.

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