heading

noun

head·​ing ˈhe-diŋ How to pronounce heading (audio)
Synonyms of headingnext
1
a
: something that forms or serves as a head
especially : an inscription, headline, or title standing at the top or beginning (as of a letter or chapter)
b
: the address and date at the beginning of a letter showing its place and time of origin
2
: the compass direction in which the longitudinal axis of a ship or aircraft points
broadly : direction
3

Examples of heading in a Sentence

What is your current heading? We organized all the recipes under different subject headings. His paintings usually fall under the heading of realism.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Two-time and defending series champ Jett Lawrence of Australia is seen as the favorite heading into the outdoor season. Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026 Adults might opt for spa treatments and relaxing in an above-water cabin but littles can spend the day snorkeling or heading of to supervised activities on the resort. Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026 Within a few seconds, the 408-foot-tall (124-meter) rocket, the largest ever built, cleared the launch tower and turned onto an eastward heading over the Gulf of Mexico. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 23 May 2026 Where is the 'Mandalorian' story heading? Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for heading

Word History

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of heading was in 1650

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heading.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heading. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

heading

noun
head·​ing ˈhed-iŋ How to pronounce heading (audio)
1
: the direction in which a ship or aircraft points
2
: something (as a title or an address) at the top or beginning (as of a letter or chapter)

More from Merriam-Webster on heading

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster