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
Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 25 Nov. 2023
This year’s parade made headlines when it was temporarily halted after a group of about 30 pro-Palestinian protesters were taken into police custody after apparently gluing themselves to the pavement of the parade route.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Nov. 2023
The account’s headline interest rate applies only to balances up to $15,000.
—Martha C. White, wsj.com, 22 Nov. 2023
With only about 22,000 residents, Cudahy is no stranger to making headlines.
—Alejandra Molina, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2023
Since the sheriff’s office posted about the skull, it’s made headlines around the world.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
Their decisions, and the headlines about them, reflected a new cultural willingness—in sports, in schools, and in the workplace—to be more genuine about mental well-being, seemingly replacing stigma with openness.
—Ilana Masad, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2023
This year, alarming episodes involving longtime Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell and powerhouse Democrat Dianne Feinstein, who died in September, made headlines and stoked fierce debate about how old is too old to serve in public office.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 20 Nov. 2023
Yet reports of shackling continue to surface, often making local headlines.
—Renuka Rayasam, CBS News, 14 Nov. 2023
Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Nov. 2023
On Wednesday, the music and arts festival announced that Noah Kahan and SZA will be headlining the festival alongside Green Day, whose appearance was previously announced.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2023
In addition to airing the NFL Black Friday game, Amazon will also have Garth Brooks headlining the first-ever Black Friday Amazon Music Live (AML) special on Nov. 24.
—Jeremy Wilson, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
Before that, fans can catch him headlining a stand-up show presented by The Times and Can’t Even Comedy on Dec. 16 at the Ace Hotel‘s Segovia Hall in downtown L.A.
—Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
The governor headlined his party's campaign events.
—CBS News, 7 Nov. 2023
In addition to headlining the December festival, Lamar and Dave Free’s company, pgLang, will curate the upcoming Move Afrika event.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 7 Nov. 2023
Minaj — a 2023 Billboard Music Awards finalist for top rap female artist — headlines a packed opening day for the festival.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 14 Nov. 2023
Video: Samantha Cooper Blackpink headlines Coachella.
—WIRED, 14 Nov. 2023
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
For Friday's New Year's Eve Live, Dierks Bentley and Dan + Shay are still scheduled to co-headline and take the main stage in Nashville's Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE.com, 31 Dec. 2021
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Noun
The killings made headlines in the Washington region.
—Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 25 Nov. 2023
This year’s parade made headlines when it was temporarily halted after a group of about 30 pro-Palestinian protesters were taken into police custody after apparently gluing themselves to the pavement of the parade route.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Nov. 2023
The account’s headline interest rate applies only to balances up to $15,000.
—Martha C. White, wsj.com, 22 Nov. 2023
With only about 22,000 residents, Cudahy is no stranger to making headlines.
—Alejandra Molina, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2023
Since the sheriff’s office posted about the skull, it’s made headlines around the world.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
Their decisions, and the headlines about them, reflected a new cultural willingness—in sports, in schools, and in the workplace—to be more genuine about mental well-being, seemingly replacing stigma with openness.
—Ilana Masad, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2023
This year, alarming episodes involving longtime Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell and powerhouse Democrat Dianne Feinstein, who died in September, made headlines and stoked fierce debate about how old is too old to serve in public office.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 20 Nov. 2023
Yet reports of shackling continue to surface, often making local headlines.
—Renuka Rayasam, CBS News, 14 Nov. 2023
Verb
Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration Sheryl Lee Ralph headlined this year’s Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration, which also featured performances by cast members of Love Actually Live.
—Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Nov. 2023
On Wednesday, the music and arts festival announced that Noah Kahan and SZA will be headlining the festival alongside Green Day, whose appearance was previously announced.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2023
In addition to airing the NFL Black Friday game, Amazon will also have Garth Brooks headlining the first-ever Black Friday Amazon Music Live (AML) special on Nov. 24.
—Jeremy Wilson, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
Before that, fans can catch him headlining a stand-up show presented by The Times and Can’t Even Comedy on Dec. 16 at the Ace Hotel‘s Segovia Hall in downtown L.A.
—Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
The governor headlined his party's campaign events.
—CBS News, 7 Nov. 2023
In addition to headlining the December festival, Lamar and Dave Free’s company, pgLang, will curate the upcoming Move Afrika event.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 7 Nov. 2023
Minaj — a 2023 Billboard Music Awards finalist for top rap female artist — headlines a packed opening day for the festival.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 14 Nov. 2023
Video: Samantha Cooper Blackpink headlines Coachella.
—WIRED, 14 Nov. 2023
Adjective
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
For Friday's New Year's Eve Live, Dierks Bentley and Dan + Shay are still scheduled to co-headline and take the main stage in Nashville's Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE.com, 31 Dec. 2021
See More
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.
Word History
Phrases Containing headline
Dictionary Entries Near headline
Cite this Entry
“Headline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headline. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on headline
Nglish: Translation of headline for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of headline for Arabic Speakers
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