1
: words set at the head of a passage or page to introduce or categorize
2
a
: a head of a newspaper story or article usually printed in large type and giving the gist of the story or article that follows
b
headlines plural
: front-page news
the scandal made headlines
headlined; headlining; headlines
1
: to provide with a headline
2
: to publicize highly
3
: to be engaged as a leading performer in (a show)
: deserving mention in a headline : very noteworthy
the headline abduction of a diplomat
Examples of headline in a Sentence
Noun
The story of his arrest appeared beneath the headline “Caught!”.
She only had time to scan the headlines before she had to rush out the door.
Surprising developments have kept the murder investigation in the headlines for several weeks.
She has grabbed the headlines by making public accusations of corruption within the government.
Verb
The band is headlining the music festival.
Recent Examples on the Web
Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
Patty Jenkins, Whoopi Goldberg and Griffin Dunne have already signed on as headline speakers.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024
News headlines highlight local schools going into lockdown almost daily.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
While the headlines around that incident have faded, the Biden Administration’s commitment to action has not.
—Pete Buttigieg, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
The disappearance of the children made national headlines.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
After headlines about how pigs and other animals in their bed had driven the estranged couple apart, the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum, 50, explained what really went down on her misSPELLING podcast.
—Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
But there’s still bound to be plenty of headlines as the studios tout their upcoming slates to exhibitors.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
Go behind the headlines of the week's biggest business news with the Fortune newsroom every Saturday with The Reader.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2024
Jack Dunn, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
Then in 2013, Kenny Chesney headlined a stadium tour stop at Miller Park for the first time, the beginning of what's become a fruitful relationship with one of the stadium's most reliable promoters, the Messina Touring Group.
—Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
Lana Del Rey will be headlining the main stage on Friday night (April 12) at 11:20 p.m., with Peso Pluma taking the stage right before her at 9:05 p.m.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2024
Matchbox Twenty, one of the biggest rock bands of the late ’90s, will headline the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand on Aug. 30.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2024
Elliott will headline shows in Seattle, Oakland, Los Angeles, Houston, Brooklyn, Atlanta, Newark, Toronto, and more cities.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024
As the Jayhawks prepare for their spring showcase on April 12, three returning veterans headline the wide receiver group: Luke Grimm, Lawrence Arnold and Quentin Skinner.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Former first lady Melania Trump will be headlining a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser later this month for Log Cabin Republicans, the largest organization representing LGBT conservatives in the United States.
—Soo Rin Kim, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2024
From 1939 to 1941, Holiday headlined at Café Society, the iconoclastic Greenwich Village nightclub known for integrating both its talent and its audience.
—Paul Alexander, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
WSJ, 29 Nov. 2023
At the time this tour was limited to club venues and state theaters, but now some 9 years later both bands are slated to co-headline LA’s KIA Forum this spring.
—Quentin Singer, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2023
Not for nothing, Calvin Harris appears at the bottom of the poster in a headline-sized font but with an unscheduled date, exactly as Swedish House Mafia did last year.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 10 Jan. 2023
Their stunning co-headline slot at Reading & Leeds Festivals last month, which featured a guest appearance from Ed Sheeran at the southern leg, was seen by many as a breakthrough moment for the whole U.K. rock/metal scene.
—Mark Sutherland, Variety, 30 Sep. 2022
Right before the tour begins, Jepsen is set to co-headline two shows with Jack Antonoff’s band Bleachers, first in Cleveland and then in Toronto.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 2 Aug. 2022
When the inevitable montage of American massacres in the years since Tucson appears in the film, your headline-weary consciousness will mentally add Uvalde, Buffalo, Highland Park and others.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2022
An under-the-radar historical feature became headline news in the U.K. this week after it was pulled from two major cinemas chains.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 June 2022
With elections in view and Democrats' headline domestic bill in a rut, Sens. Bernie Sanders and Chuck Schumer have very different takes on how things are going in their chamber.
—Alan Fram, ajc, 12 Feb. 2022
Noun
Colossal has made headlines pursuing the de-extinction of the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger, and the dodo.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
Patty Jenkins, Whoopi Goldberg and Griffin Dunne have already signed on as headline speakers.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024
News headlines highlight local schools going into lockdown almost daily.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
While the headlines around that incident have faded, the Biden Administration’s commitment to action has not.
—Pete Buttigieg, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
The disappearance of the children made national headlines.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
After headlines about how pigs and other animals in their bed had driven the estranged couple apart, the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum, 50, explained what really went down on her misSPELLING podcast.
—Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
But there’s still bound to be plenty of headlines as the studios tout their upcoming slates to exhibitors.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
Go behind the headlines of the week's biggest business news with the Fortune newsroom every Saturday with The Reader.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2024
Verb
Doja Cat will headline the last day of weekend one, starting at 10:25 p.m..
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
Then in 2013, Kenny Chesney headlined a stadium tour stop at Miller Park for the first time, the beginning of what's become a fruitful relationship with one of the stadium's most reliable promoters, the Messina Touring Group.
—Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
Lana Del Rey will be headlining the main stage on Friday night (April 12) at 11:20 p.m., with Peso Pluma taking the stage right before her at 9:05 p.m.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2024
Matchbox Twenty, one of the biggest rock bands of the late ’90s, will headline the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand on Aug. 30.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2024
Elliott will headline shows in Seattle, Oakland, Los Angeles, Houston, Brooklyn, Atlanta, Newark, Toronto, and more cities.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024
As the Jayhawks prepare for their spring showcase on April 12, three returning veterans headline the wide receiver group: Luke Grimm, Lawrence Arnold and Quentin Skinner.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Former first lady Melania Trump will be headlining a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser later this month for Log Cabin Republicans, the largest organization representing LGBT conservatives in the United States.
—Soo Rin Kim, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2024
From 1939 to 1941, Holiday headlined at Café Society, the iconoclastic Greenwich Village nightclub known for integrating both its talent and its audience.
—Paul Alexander, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The preliminary estimate for headline German inflation, due for release at 1300 GMT, is expected to fall to 3.5% in November from 3.8% in October, measured according to national standards.
—WSJ, 29 Nov. 2023
At the time this tour was limited to club venues and state theaters, but now some 9 years later both bands are slated to co-headline LA’s KIA Forum this spring.
—Quentin Singer, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2023
Not for nothing, Calvin Harris appears at the bottom of the poster in a headline-sized font but with an unscheduled date, exactly as Swedish House Mafia did last year.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 10 Jan. 2023
Their stunning co-headline slot at Reading & Leeds Festivals last month, which featured a guest appearance from Ed Sheeran at the southern leg, was seen by many as a breakthrough moment for the whole U.K. rock/metal scene.
—Mark Sutherland, Variety, 30 Sep. 2022
Right before the tour begins, Jepsen is set to co-headline two shows with Jack Antonoff’s band Bleachers, first in Cleveland and then in Toronto.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 2 Aug. 2022
When the inevitable montage of American massacres in the years since Tucson appears in the film, your headline-weary consciousness will mentally add Uvalde, Buffalo, Highland Park and others.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2022
An under-the-radar historical feature became headline news in the U.K. this week after it was pulled from two major cinemas chains.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 June 2022
With elections in view and Democrats' headline domestic bill in a rut, Sens. Bernie Sanders and Chuck Schumer have very different takes on how things are going in their chamber.
—Alan Fram, ajc, 12 Feb. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'headline.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near headline
Cite this Entry
“Headline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headline. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
headline
1 of 2 noun
head·line
-ˌlīn 
1
: a line at the top of a page (as in a book) giving a heading
2
: the title over an item or article in a newspaper
headline
2 of 2 verb1
: to provide with a headline
2
: to publicize highly
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