Link Centre Dictionary

headlong

head·long

UK/ˈhɛd.lɒŋ/ US/ˈhɛd.lɔŋ/ rare
adverb (3) adjective (2)

adverb

1.

with the head foremost

  • “the runner slid headlong into third base”
Synonyms
2.

at breakneck speed

  • “burst headlong through the gate”
Synonyms
3.

in a hasty and foolhardy manner

  • “he fell headlong in love with his cousin”
Synonyms

adjective

1.

excessively quick

  • “made a hasty exit”
  • “a headlong rush to sell”
Synonyms
Similar
2.

with the head foremost

  • “a headfirst plunge down the stairs”
  • “a headlong dive into the pool”
Synonyms
Similar

Origin

From Middle English hedlong, alteration of hedling, heedling, hevedlynge (“headlong”), assimilated to long. More at headling.

Related words

Pertaining to

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.