headline

[ hed-lahyn ]

noun

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.

verb (used with object)

, head·lined, head·lin·ing.

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)

, head·lined, head·lin·ing.

1. to be the star of an entertainment.

headline

/ ˈhɛdˌlaɪn /

noun

1. Also calledheadheading
   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. hit the headlines
   hit the headlines to become prominent in the news

verb

1. tr to furnish (a story or page) with a headline
2. to have top billing (in)

Word History and Origins

Origin of headline¹

First recorded in 1620–30; head + line ¹

Example Sentences

If you’re entering a headline in Week 1423, please don’t also submit it to Anagram Times.

From Washington Post

Some of its biggest price swings were in 2017 and 2018, when a steep rise followed by an 84 percent decline brought plenty of hype and headlines.

From Singularity Hub 

These checks, cut at retirement, have made headlines because they sometimes reach six-figure sums.

From ProPublica

It’s become pretty trendy, re-litigating the headline controversies of the late ’90s and early 2000s.

From Washington Post

The coronavirus pandemic — and the inevitable headlines about the total amount bet on Sunday’s Super Bowl — probably will prompt even more legislators to take a close look at sports betting.

From Washington Post

This same outlet worked the phrase “engagement to toyboy lover” into the headline of their article on Fry.

From The Daily Beast

The disbelief was evident in article after article, with one conservative site using “President Pinocchio” in its headline.

From The Daily Beast

Then last week, Bloomberg Businessweek ran a banner headline “Jeb Bush Has a Mitt Romney Problem.”

From The Daily Beast

Then, under the bold headline “Rebooting Spider-Man,” Robinov describes a broad vision for the future of the franchise.

From The Daily Beast

The new headline number for American wine drinking is, for example, easily turned into another misleading statistic.

From The Daily Beast

"'Violet Walbridge confesses to a passion for Honobosa Iccho,'" he declaimed, as if quoting a possible headline.

From Project Gutenberg

The headline to the article was only three words in heavy type across the page: “Trapped at last!”

From Project Gutenberg

She read a million newsfeeds, pulling them with a headline reader that sucked up stories as fast as they ended up on the wire.

From Project Gutenberg

His death would have rated a banner headline in every paper published south of the United States borders.

From Project Gutenberg

He seized the paper and his eyes took in the rest of the headline at a glance.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• caption
• title