headline

American  

[hed-lahyn] / ˈhɛdˌlaɪn /

noun

• headlines
  plural

1. a heading in a newspaper for any written material, sometimes for an illustration, to indicate subject matter, set in larger type than that of the copy and containing one or more words and lines and often several banks.

2. the largest such heading on the front page, usually at the top.

3. the line at the top of a page, containing the title, pagination, etc.

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verb (used with object)

headlined, headlining

1. to furnish with a headline.

2. to mention or name in a headline.

3. to publicize, feature, or star (a specific performer, product, etc.).

4. to be the star of (a show, nightclub act, etc.)

verb (used without object)

headlined, headlining

1. to be the star of an entertainment.

headline British  

/ ˈhɛdˌlaɪn /

noun

1. Also called: head, heading.

   1. a phrase at the top of a newspaper or magazine article indicating the subject of the article, usually in larger and heavier type

   2. a line at the top of a page indicating the title, page number, etc

2. (usually plural) the main points of a television or radio news broadcast, read out before the full broadcast and summarized at the end

3. to become prominent in the news

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verb

1. (tr) to furnish (a story or page) with a headline

2. to have top billing (in)

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• headlines
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of headline

First recorded in 1620–30; head + line ¹

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Explanation

A headline is the title of a newspaper story. You'll know the headline, because it's printed in the largest font on the front of the paper. Printed newspapers have headlines, and online journals, magazines, and newspapers also use headlines. A headline is the title of a story in the paper, and it's usually easy to spot by its large, bold letters. Sometimes television and radio news also use the word headline to mean the biggest, most important news stories of the day. The word was originally a printer's term for the title and page number, and by 1890 it meant "newspaper title."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

headline headlines headlined headlining

Now, the group will focus on their own original music ahead of their debut headline show on 1 December at The Grace in London.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

Surging demand for power from data centers certainly has impacted inflation, raising energy costs for companies and household electricity bills and adding 5 to 10 basis points to both core and headline inflation statistics.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026

"The market is no longer paying full geopolitical premium on every headline, and that is probably the most useful signal in the morning price action," wrote SPI Asset Management's Stephen Innes.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

The primary difference is that the corruption Sorkin points to is unique to the digital age, where everything is ephemeral — trumped by the next headline.

From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026

Hideo had been a magazine cover then—a glimpse in a news article, a photo in a televised broadcast, a headline in a tabloid.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

Canadian manufacturing sales rebounded in August but not as strongly as the headlines might suggest, says Capital Economics’ Thomas Ryan.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Often, those efforts have been prompted by an allegation, such as the one made by Jane Doe, that garnered national headlines.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

“More gut-check moments will come as yields and headlines ebb and flow through year end,” Ives wrote in a note.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026

But she believes egg-freezing should be seen as one option among a wider package of support for female athletes, and urges those considering it to look beyond the headlines - and ask plenty of questions.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Across the country, the case hit the headlines.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Elsewhere in the paper, the G7 agreement on releasing "more diesel reserves" is headlined along with British pumps passing £2 a litre.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

Now the news side of the Chronicle has published a story headlined “Scott Wiener spent years rewriting California housing law. What does he have to show for it?”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

Kacey Musgraves headlined a tribute to late country legend Dolly Parton, while Teddy Swims, Sombr and Raye offered a soulful tribute to crooner George Michael, 40 years after the release of his landmark album "Faith."

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

This year’s Coachella, headlined by Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Karol G, drew the most concurrent viewers in the history of Coachella on YouTube, according to the company.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026

The evening newspaper ran a review headlined local group pitches in, cleans up warehouse.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

In April, he made his Coachella headlining debut, playing a nearly 90-minute set.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026

A company press release, headlining a “Major Milestone,” was ready to go.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

That same day, he’s headlining the Hollywood Bowl, one of his favorite venues in the city.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

"The great Guinness robbery" is the Daily Star's top story, headlining on "truck gang steals 70k pints".

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026

“I know! You’re headlining at major concert venues all over the world. I completely get that. I’m gonna start in New York and work my way around the globe,” I say.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

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