headlong

American  

[hed-lawng, -long] / ˈhɛdˌlɔŋ, -ˌlɒŋ /

adverb

1. with the head foremost; headfirst.

   to plunge headlong into the water.

2. without delay; hastily.

   to plunge headlong into work.

3. without deliberation; rashly.

   to rush headlong into battle.

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adjective

1. undertaken quickly and suddenly; made precipitately; hasty.

   a headlong flight.

2. rash; impetuous.

   a headlong denunciation.

3. done or going with the head foremost.

   a headlong dive into the pool.

headlong British  

/ ˈhɛdˌlɒŋ /

adverb

1. with the head foremost; headfirst

2. with great haste

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adjective

1. archaic (of slopes, etc) very steep; precipitous

Other Word Forms

• headlongness noun

Etymology

Origin of headlong

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English hedlong, earlier hedling; head, -ling ²

Example Sentences

They amassed enough signatures late last year to qualify their proposal for this November’s ballot, launching New England’s most populous state headlong into the debate over whether policing rent helps tenants.

From The Wall Street Journal

But before I went headlong into the dirt, Daddy caught me by the back of my shirt, pulled me right up, and set me on my feet.

From Literature

Re-entry will rush headlong into the need for energy to power the AI data centers being built in the state.

From The Wall Street Journal

And if there were multiple smaller fires, that meant they could run headlong into a wall of flames any minute.

From Literature

It’s fun, headlong reading with a shot of melancholy.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• breakneck
• hurried
• sudden