Showing results for "heading"

• present participle of head.

heading

American  

[hed-ing] / ˈhɛd ɪŋ /

noun

headings plural

1. something that serves as a head, top, or front.

2. a title or caption of a page, chapter, etc.

3. a section of the subject of a discourse; a main division of a topic or theme.

4. the compass direction toward which a traveler or vehicle is or should be moving; course.

5. an active underground mining excavation in the earth, as a drift or raise being or about to be driven.

6. Aeronautics. the angle between the axis from front to rear of an aircraft and some reference line, as magnetic north.

---

heading British  

/ ˈhɛdɪŋ /

noun

1. a title for a page, paragraph, chapter, etc

2. a main division, as of a lecture, speech, essay, etc

3. mining

   1. a horizontal tunnel

   2. the end of such a tunnel

4. the angle between the direction of an aircraft and a specified meridian, often due north

5. the compass direction parallel to the keel of a vessel

6. the act of heading

7. anything that serves as a head

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonheading
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• headings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of heading

First recorded in 1250–1300, heading is from the Middle English word hefding. See head, -ing ¹

Explanation

A heading is a word, phrase, or sentence at the beginning of a written passage that explains what it's about. A heading is very similar to a title. A heading is similar to a caption, a line below a photograph that briefly explains it. Headings show up at the top of paragraphs, chapters, or pages, and they give you an idea of what the subject is. You might write a heading for each chapter of your novel, or on each page of your French club newsletter. The 1300's meaning of heading was "beheading," and it wasn't until the late 1800's that it came to mean "title."

Example Sentences

Defense attorney Steve Haney told The Times it appeared the trial was heading to a “hung jury.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2026

Partygoers seemed more enthused about the vendor selling beaded plushie necklaces than about heading to the dance floor.

From Slate • Jun. 25, 2026

Through two games, a pair of wins that has already sent the U.S. to the knockout stage, Freese has conceded only once heading into Thursday night’s match against Turkey.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026

Expectations are high heading into the print: Analysts expect Micron to post adjusted earnings of $20.83 a share on sales of $35.9 billion.

From Barron's • Jun. 24, 2026

“Hello. Just need to get my key. Oh, this is my sister, Elizabeth,” says my brother before heading to the bar.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• route