headline

1 of 3

noun

head·​line ˈhed-ˌlīn 

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 : major and widely reported news

the scandal made/grabbed headlines

a story in the headlines [=widely reported] for weeks

headline

2 of 3

verb

headlined; headlining; headlines

transitive verb

1

: to provide with a headline

2

: to publicize highly

3

: to be engaged as a leading performer in (a show)

headline

3 of 3

adjective

: deserving mention in a headline : very noteworthy

the headline abduction of a diplomat

Synonyms of headline

Noun

• title
• caption
• heading

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

Noun

The case spawned international headlines, podcasts, books and documentaries. — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Though some accusations seem to hold water, the headline is his hounding in context. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026

Verb

The Music City indie-rock band, led by the charismatic frontperson Oliver Pierce, brought their synth sounds and kinetic stage show to Jon Bon Jovi’s honky-tonk downtown for a daylong bill headlined by Cage the Elephant. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen and Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd headline the series, done in a true-crime mockumentary style. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026

Adjective

Indie rock quartet The Beths and indie-pop trio Beach Bunny are teaming up for a co-headline tour this summer. — Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026

Too many residents are quietly struggling with burnout, isolation, housing insecurity, or lack of access to care, yet these challenges often receive less attention than headline political debates. — Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1771, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1860, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1906, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing headline

• headline inflation

Rhymes for headline

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• bovine
• brucine
• byline

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 verb

1

: to provide with a headline

2

: to publicize highly