headlong

1 of 2

adverb

head·​long ˈhed-ˈlȯŋ 

1

: headfirst sense 1

2

: without deliberation : recklessly

rushes headlong into danger

3

: without pause or delay

headlong

2 of 2

adjective

head·​long ˈhed-ˌlȯŋ 

1

archaic : steep, precipitous

2

: lacking in calmness or restraint : precipitate

a headlong torrent of emotion

3

: plunging headfirst

Did you know?

Headlong was born out of the Middle English word hedling, a combination of hed ("head") and -ling, an adverb suffix meaning "in such a direction or manner." Thus, hedling meant "with the head first”; it was originally applied to descriptions of falling, or to downward movement. Likely due to the influence of the words along and long, -ling came to be understood as a variant of the adverb suffix -long, a development that carried headlong, as well as sidelong, along with it.

Synonyms

Adverb

• cursorily
• hastily
• hotfoot
• hurriedly
• pell-mell
• precipitately
• precipitously
• rashly

Adjective

• cursory
• drive-by
• flying
• gadarene
• hasty
• helter-skelter
• hurried
• overhasty
• pell-mell
• precipitate
• precipitous
• rash
• rushed

Choose the Right Synonym for headlong

precipitate, headlong, abrupt, impetuous, sudden mean showing undue haste or unexpectedness.

precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action.

the army's precipitate withdrawal

headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought.

a headlong flight from arrest

abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony.

an abrupt refusal

impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness.

an impetuous lover proposing marriage

sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action.

flew into a sudden rage

Examples of headlong in a Sentence

Adverb

I dove headlong to the floor.

plunged headlong into the crowd in pursuit of the purse snatcher

Adjective

terrified forest creatures in a headlong retreat from the rapidly spreading fire

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Talk about throwing yourself headlong into something — what gave you the confidence to go after that role? —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024

Recent efforts to address health disparities have run headlong into racist policies still entrenched in health systems. —Kff Health News, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024

Adjective

From there things just keep happening, as one event unfolds into another in a headlong rush amid the incessant clatter of plates and pans and the machine spitting out endless order tickets. —Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024

Since 2019, cord-cutting has robbed the Diamond RSNs of as many as 25 million subscribers, and the headlong rush to uncouple from the traditional cable/satellite/telco-TV bundle is only accelerating. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English hedlong, alteration of hedling, from hed head

First Known Use

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

circa 1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

headlong

1 of 2 adverb

head·​long ˈhed-ˈlȯŋ 

1

: headfirst

2

: without careful thought : recklessly

headlong

2 of 2 adjective

1

: lacking in calmness or restraint : rash

headlong flight

2

: plunging headfirst

a headlong dive