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

After the company-wide bet on diesel went up in a cloud of nitrogen oxides and black smoke, VW threw itself headlong into electrification as a way to meet ever-stricter carbon emissions regulations. —Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 25 July 2024

Before jumping headlong into a potentially dangerous spiral of cyber-escalation, the United States and its allies should first use all of the economic tools at their disposal. —Dmitri Alperovitch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2022

Adjective

Hearst was headlong into her own group, Borrowed Angels. —Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2024

Witt’s quest evolved beyond a casual journalistic undertaking into a headlong immersion; drugs and nightlife began to feel like the answer to problems personal, political, and philosophical. —Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 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