helm
helm — noun
- helmsingular
- helmsplural
1. The wheel or handle that sends a vessel left or right by turning a flat piece, c
The wheel or handle that sends a vessel left or right by turning a flat piece, called a rudder, that sits under the water.
Captain Ingrid gripped the helm firmly as the waves hit the side of the boat.
at the helm (literal nautical use)
The storm forced Samir to hold the helm with both arms for almost an hour.
A modern helm uses electronic controls rather than a heavy wooden wheel.
Eli took the helm while the captain studied the radar screen below deck.
文法句型
the helm
at the helm
take the helm
用法筆記
The physical helm is most often referred to in the phrases 'at the helm' (steering the boat) or 'take the helm' (begin steering). A person who steers is called a helmsman.
常見錯誤
2. The position of being the person who leads an organization, company, or importan
The position of being the person who leads an organization, company, or important project and makes the main decisions about its direction.
After a decade at the helm of the publishing house, Valentina decided to retire.
at the helm of [organization]
The district hired someone new to serve at the helm of the school board.
With Caleb at the helm, the small bakery grew into a chain of twenty stores.
Naoko spent fifteen years at the helm of a major hospital in downtown Tokyo.
- leadership
more general; does not carry the nautical metaphor, used in any context
- command
suggests a stronger, more military style of control
- direction
focuses on the path or strategy, not the person's role
- follower
a person who is led rather than leading
- subordinate
someone lower in rank who reports to the leader
文法句型
at the helm of [organization]
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the phrase 'at the helm (of something)'. The object of 'of' is typically an organization, company, department, or project.
常見錯誤
3. To begin leading an organization, company, or project by accepting responsibilit
To begin leading an organization, company, or project by accepting responsibility for its direction and for decisions about its future.
Emily will take the helm of the charity when the current director leaves next spring.
take the helm of [organization]
The board asked Kofi to take the helm after the firm lost two major clients.
When the founder retired early, her eldest daughter took the helm of the family business.
Lotte took the helm of the hospital's nursing department and immediately improved staff training.
- take charge
more general; can apply to any situation, not just formal leadership
- take over
emphasises replacing a previous leader
- assume control
more formal, especially in business or political contexts
文法句型
take the helm of [organization]
用法筆記
Always appears in the phrase 'take the helm (of something)'. Distinguish from sense 2: 'at the helm' describes the ongoing state of being in control, while 'take the helm' describes the moment of accepting that control.
常見錯誤
helm — verb
- helmpresent simple I / you / we / they
- helms3rd person singular
- helming-ing form
- helmedpast simple
1. To lead, manage, or guide an organization, project, or system by making the impo
To lead, manage, or guide an organization, project, or system by making the important decisions that shape its development.
Karim helmed the research team for seven years before moving to a university in Berlin.
Amihan helmed the hospital's emergency department during a major outbreak of the flu virus.
helm + department with time context
Haruto was chosen to helm the new regional office that opens in Taipei next year.
The award-winning film was helmed by a director who had never made a documentary before.
Hugo helmed three marketing campaigns that each doubled the company's online sales.
文法句型
helm [organization/project]
用法筆記
Common in journalism and formal business writing. The passive forms 'was helmed by' and 'is helmed by' are very frequent, especially in reviews and news reports about creative projects or organizational changes.