adjective
adverb
Etymology
Origin of headfirst
Explanation
When you do something headfirst, your head leads the way. For example, a boy might show off by diving headfirst into a chilly lake. The adverb headfirst is useful for describing a dive or a movement that leads with the head. A stormy ocean might fling a swimmer headfirst onto the beach, or an unlucky skier could slide headfirst down a mountain. You can also use headfirst in a more figurative way, to describe something that's done impulsively, or in a foolishly hasty manner: "He plunged headfirst into this new relationship two days after breaking up with his girlfriend."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But many species of kingfishers dive headfirst into water to catch their fishy prey.
From Science Daily • Oct. 24, 2023
“When something opens up in front of you that you love, you dive headfirst into it,” he said.
From New York Times • Jun. 27, 2023
It would probably take a major cultural shift for bigger entertainment firms to dive headfirst into that world.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2023
But the puck got away from him a bit as he neared Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry, so Oshie decided there was only one thing to do — dive headfirst.
From Washington Post • Mar. 10, 2021
She stops and stares as I close my eyes and dive headfirst into the hill of muck, hoping it'll keep me safe.
From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
