Headlong — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adverb adjective /ˈhed-ˈlȯŋ/ (adverb) /ˈhed-ˌlȯŋ/ (adjective) head·long

Meaning & Definition of Headlong

Headlong (adverb)

  1. headfirst
  2. without deliberation, recklessly
  3. without pause or delay

Headlong (adjective)

  1. steep, precipitous
  2. lacking in calmness or restraint, precipitate
  3. plunging headfirst

Headlong (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. acting or done with excessive or careless speed

    "terrified forest creatures in a headlong retreat from the rapidly spreading fire"

    similar: cursory, drive-by, flying, gadarene, hasty, helter-skelter, hurried, overhasty, pell-mell, precipitate, precipitous, rash, rushed
    related: breakneck, breathtaking, headstrong, heady, hotheaded, impatient, impetuous, impulsive, madcap, reckless, unadvised, quick, rapid, speedy, swift, horseback, impromptu, makeshift, offhand, offhanded, off-the-cuff, rush, slapdash, snap, spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment, abrupt, sudden
    opposite: deliberate, unhurried, unrushed
    near: calculated, calculating, measured, circumspect, foresighted, forethoughtful, drawn-out, extended, long-term, prolonged, faltering, hesitant, hesitating, tentative, dallying, dawdling, laggard, leisurely, poky, shilly-shallying, slow

Headlong (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. with excessive or careless speed

    "plunged headlong into the crowd in pursuit of the purse snatcher"

    similar: cursorily, hastily, hotfoot, hurriedly, pell-mell, precipitately, precipitously, rashly, on the spur of the moment
    related: headfirst, headily, hotheadedly, impatiently, impetuously, impulsively, recklessly, thoughtlessly, automatically, glancingly, haphazardly, impromptu, spontaneously, abruptly, suddenly, offhand, offhandedly
    opposite: deliberately, studiedly
    near: calculatingly, circumspectly, designedly, falteringly, haltingly, hesitantly, hesitatingly, tentatively, leisurely, slowly

  2. without delay

    "had barely finished the last project when we went headlong into the next one"

    similar: bang, directly, forthwith, immediately, incontinently, instantaneously, instanter, instantly, now, PDQ, plumb, presently, promptly, pronto, right, right away, right now, right off, straight off, straightaway, straightway, at once, in no time, off the bat, on a dime, on the double, on the spot
    related: away, freely, anon, momentarily, shortly, soon, apace, briskly, fast, fleetly, full tilt, posthaste, quick, quickly, rapidly, readily, snappily, speedily, swift, swiftly, abruptly, presto, suddenly, unexpectedly, hastily, impetuously, impulsively, rashly, recklessly, exactly, opportunely, punctually, seasonably
    near: slowly, late, tardily

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Headlong

The most common words with a similar meaning to Headlong:

cursory, drive-by, flying, gadarene, hasty, helter-skelter, hurried, overhasty, pell-mell, precipitate, precipitous, rash, rushed, cursorily, hastily, hotfoot, hurriedly, precipitately, precipitously, rashly, bang, directly, forthwith, immediately, incontinently, instantaneously, instanter, instantly, now, PDQ, plumb, presently, promptly, pronto, right, right away, right now, right off, straight off, straightaway

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Headlong

Words with the opposite meaning of Headlong:

deliberate, unhurried, unrushed, deliberately, studiedly

Related Words for Headlong

breakneck, breathtaking, headstrong, heady, hotheaded, impatient, impetuous, impulsive, madcap, reckless, unadvised, quick, rapid, speedy, swift, horseback, impromptu, makeshift, offhand, offhanded, off-the-cuff, rush, slapdash, snap, spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment, abrupt, sudden, headfirst, headily

Near Antonyms of Headlong

calculated, calculating, measured, circumspect, foresighted, forethoughtful, drawn-out, extended, long-term, prolonged, faltering, hesitant, hesitating, tentative, dallying, dawdling, laggard, leisurely, poky, shilly-shallying, slow, calculatingly, circumspectly, designedly, falteringly, haltingly, hesitantly, hesitatingly, tentatively, slowly

Origin & Etymology of Headlong

Middle English hedlong, alteration of hedling, from hed head

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Headlong

What does "Headlong" mean?

"Headlong" means headfirst. As an an adverb and an adjective, it is defined as: headfirst. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Headlong"?

Other words for "Headlong" include cursory, drive-by, flying, gadarene, hasty, helter-skelter, hurried and overhasty. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Headlong" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Headlong"?

There are 115 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Headlong". Common alternatives include cursory, drive-by, flying, gadarene, hasty, helter-skelter, hurried, overhasty, pell-mell and precipitate.

What is the opposite of "Headlong"?

Antonyms of "Headlong" include deliberate, unhurried, unrushed, deliberately and studiedly. Near antonyms include calculated, calculating, measured and circumspect.

How do you use "Headlong" in a sentence?

Examples of "Headlong" in a sentence: "terrified forest creatures in a headlong retreat from the rapidly spreading fire"; "plunged headlong into the crowd in pursuit of the purse snatcher"; "had barely finished the last project when we went headlong into the next one".

Is "Headlong" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Headlong" can be used as an adverb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Headlong"?

"Headlong" is pronounced /ˈhed-ˈlȯŋ/ as an adverb and /ˈhed-ˌlȯŋ/ as an adjective and divided into syllables as head·long.

What is the origin of the word "Headlong"?

"Headlong" comes from Middle English hedlong, alteration of hedling, from hed head. First known use: 14th century.