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

A parade of short-priced winners opened the Breeders’ Cup on Friday, with the afternoon’s heaviest favorite capturing the headline race as Hughes won the $2 million Juvenile.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

The same photograph is front and centre of the Daily Telegraph, paired with the headline: "King: Slavery was a 'great suffering'".

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

Management’s explanation of fulfillment costs matters as much as the headline margin.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026

Jay-Z has chosen himself to headline the Super Bowl halftime show.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026

In effect, the headline appears to be the caption for the photograph.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

A rift earlier this year between the pope and Trump sparked global headlines.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

It’s also not hard to imagine the estates of Big Mama Thornton and Arthur Crudup — should any such entities exist — scoffing at those headlines.

From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026

He recently made headlines for saying he would "find a way" to share his space with rare bats that have paused his renovation plans.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

Missing the point, Bloomberg headlines its story: “Anthropic Flags ‘Existential Risks’ in Long-Awaited IPO Filing.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

There would be more headlines if she wasn't.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

The first Black US president headlined three rallies this week for Democratic candidates in next Tuesday's elections, with voters picking lawmakers who will serve for the remainder of President Donald Trump's term.

From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026

The steel producer’s results were headlined by the steel mills segment, where earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests more than doubled to $1.79 billion from $793 million a year prior.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

“There’s a reason U2 has headlined stadiums for decades: they don’t just perform, they deliver iconic moments audiences remember forever,” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

This summer, Raye was among the six British and Irish artists who headlined Reading and Leeds Festival.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

It doesn’t mention the even-bigger-to-me news that last night Shooting Star headlined at a club in Seattle and, according to the text Adam sent me at midnight, sold out the place.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

The NFL had approached him years prior about headlining the Super Bowl halftime show, but it came with the stipulation to perform “Run This Town” with Rihanna and Kanye West.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026

Although reggaeton originated in the streets, the genre hit its zenith in the mainstream this year, thanks to Bad Bunny’s historic Super Bowl halftime show and Karol G’s headlining set at Coachella.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

Image: FKA Twigs and her dancers letting out a collective primal scream while headlining the LadyLand Festival at Under the K Bridge Park in Brooklyn.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

A promoter pitched him on headlining a series of morning family concerts—and Australian dates sold out in days.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 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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Related Words

• caption
• title

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