as in title
a word or series of words often in larger letters placed at the beginning of a passage or at the top of a page in order to introduce or categorize
the recipe for turkey gumbo is under the heading "stews" rather than under "soups"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in turning
to go on a specified course or in a certain direction
she'll be heading out east in the fall to attend college
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in leading
to be at the front of
heading the procession at the dog show was a miniature poodle, followed by dogs seemingly of every breed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in supervising
to be in charge of
who headed the CIA when Ronald Reagan was president?
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in going
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction
the road to riches headed north, thought many, as off they went to Alaska to try their luck at panning gold
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in aiming
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal
after a long day at the beach, we headed the car toward home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in commanding
to serve as leader of
Robert La Salle headed the expedition that claimed Louisiana for the French king
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in decapitating
to cut off the head of
got a job at the slaughterhouse heading cattle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of heading
Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Ilia Malinin, the overwhelming favorite heading into the Olympics, struggled in the free skate and finished eighth overall.
—Alice Fang, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Clark Spencer, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Chelsea could not handle the aggression, strength, movement, jumping, heading, passing or vision that pair showed in December.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for heading
Noun
The Galaxy’s away goal in the first leg gave them the tiebreaker heading into Wednesday’s second leg.
—Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Ilia Malinin, the overwhelming favorite heading into the Olympics, struggled in the free skate and finished eighth overall.
—Alice Fang, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
The 75th Florida Derby — a top race that has produced 26 Kentucky Derby winners — shapes up as this year’s biggest prep heading into the May 2 Run for the Roses.
—Clark Spencer, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Chelsea could not handle the aggression, strength, movement, jumping, heading, passing or vision that pair showed in December.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for heading
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heading
Noun
-
The leadership group has also retained several familiar faces to help defend the NFC South division title during the upcoming season.—
Mike Kaye
March 26,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Continuing under the leadership of head coach David Carle, the Pios have a chance to win the eleventh title in program history.—
Jack Lowenstein,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When prairie goes under the plow, most of the organic matter disappears, turning living water‑holding, nutrient‑rich soil into mineral dust.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
-
That might look like turning a profit for the first time, or seeing how their product or service changes the lives of customers.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sunday’s match, which was interrupted by rain with Siniakova/Townsend leading 6-5 in the first set, was a rematch of the Indian Wells semifinals, where Siniakova/Townsend won 6-2, 6-2.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
-
There wasn’t anything inherently wrong with this, but outsourcing the writing to professionals only underscored the degree to which this humble document, once meant to blunt the puffery of the cover letter, had now become the leading weapon in the job seeker’s arsenal.—
Stephen Mihm,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Athletic coaches, people responding to emergencies, people supervising inmates, custodians, and people helping children who need bathroom assistance get a pass.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The transit operator has been accused in the past of not properly supervising contract security personnel who occasionally used excessive force.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
To meet his growing costs, Meraj had increased the price of a cup of tea from ten rupees to fifteen, a fifty-per-cent rise (in New York terms, like a cup of drip coffee going from just shy of four dollars to nearly six overnight).—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
McDowell is with 916 Community Alliance, going inside underserved community classrooms to help keep the peace.—
Steve Large,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Fighting Illini are aiming to clinch its first Final Four berth since 2005.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.—
Detroit Free Press Staff,
Freep.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One is by Clare Harner and the other is by Henry Scott Holland, and both approach death with tenderness, but also with a commanding tone fitting the imperious Ann.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Willis, who signed a three-year, $45 million contract, could be commanding $50 million or more per season in the summer of 2028.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Seizing the island would deal a major blow to Tehran's economy, undercutting one of its most critical revenue streams and decapitating its key means of waging economic warfare.—
Chris Boccia,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
But, thus far, decapitating the regime has succeeded only in replacing one Ayatollah Khamenei with another.—
Franklin Foer,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heading. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
