headfirst

[hed-furst]

adverb

1. with the head heads in front or bent forward; headforemost.

   He dived headfirst into the sea.

2. rashly; precipitately.

headfirst

/ ˈhɛdˈfɜːst /

adjective

1. with the head foremost; headlong

   he fell headfirst

adverb

1. rashly or carelessly

Word History and Origins

Origin of headfirst¹

First recorded in 1820–30; head + first

Example Sentences

We race each other to the car and dive inside headfirst, with Autumn beating me by a split second.

Read more on Literature

Equihua’s trust in herself is what led her from a scholarship at Parsons School of Design to an in-house designer for luxury womenswear brands to leaping headfirst into her own label.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But now, with overwhelming chaos in his rearview, he proclaims, “I’m running headfirst into everything. I’m not dying. I’m not scared of s—.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I just know that Bronstein demands you pay attention to her, and with Byrne diving headfirst into the character’s harrowing panic, you will find you have no other choice.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And in the chain of events her departure causes, Anderson dives headfirst into the film’s more intimate elements, presenting a soulful and darkly humorous counterpart to the film’s cold, violent first act.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• directly 
• head-on 
• headlong