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
Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
That gap between passive surveillance and active, accountable protection is where Schneider sees the market heading.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2026
Theo Karantsalis, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
For many users heading into 2026, the trend has taken on a quietly aspirational tone — a way to reclaim hours that previously disappeared into apps and to build a life that looks fuller off-screen than on it.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for heading
Noun
Will my boss prefer serif or sans serif headings in this pitch deck?
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
That gap between passive surveillance and active, accountable protection is where Schneider sees the market heading.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
The intersection carries a heavy mix of airport traffic, including rental cars, taxis, ride-share vehicles, hotel shuttles and workers heading to and from Miami International Airport.
—Theo Karantsalis, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
For many users heading into 2026, the trend has taken on a quietly aspirational tone — a way to reclaim hours that previously disappeared into apps and to build a life that looks fuller off-screen than on it.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for heading
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heading
Noun
-
Both were keen to win the title, but also prove who was the boss of the continent.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
Here's who took home the show's most coveted title at the live finale in Los Angeles and the $2 million that comes with it.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
But surviving in absolute uncertainty, turning from somebody to nobody at the age of forty-three, and starting everything from scratch in another language, seemed an affordable price to pay compared to being paralysed with fear or having to be brave all the time.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
-
Concrete dust clotted the air, turning the afternoon dark.—
Rania Abouzeid,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
Both teams were shorthanded, as Indiana star Aliyah Boston missed her first WNBA game due to a lower right leg injury, and Storm forward and leading scorer Dominique Malonga missed her first game this season due to a concussion.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
The leading 10 players come from seven countries, four of them major champions.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
As more robotics are deployed, work has evolved and focuses more on supervising robots and working closely with vendors on capturing data and insights from software and artificial intelligence that’s built into the hardware systems.—
John Kell,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
-
During that time frame, visitors, who are 17 or younger, must be accompanied by a parent or a supervising adult, who is at least 21.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by Shania Twain, are airing live on Prime Video and Amazon Music from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, meaning some of the genre's biggest stars are going home with new accolades under their belts.—
Jack Irvin,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
-
Police said officers responded to shootings involving apartment buildings and homes while going door-to-door to ensure residents had not been injured.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The team is aiming for a January 2027 start.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
16 May 2026
-
Iceland’s official eclipse site says 13 cruise ships are expected around Iceland for the event, with vessels aiming to maximize totality and retain the flexibility to adjust position for clearer skies.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
But the Knicks are now commanding favorites in the East, having swept the 76ers in the conference semis.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
-
And the end came well before midnight, with goals by Mitch Marner and Brett Howden in the first 8½ minutes giving Vegas a commanding lead before many in the late-arriving weeknight crowd had made it to their seats at the Honda Center.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
After decapitating the body, Kennedy tied the head to the top of the family's minivan with a bungee cord, making for a less-than-pleasant five-hour drive back home to Mount Kisco, New York, according to her recollection.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
-
Matt is just another little boy spending his days decapitating daffodils, driven by a prepubescent need to get attention and assert his will.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heading. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
