headline
HEHD-lyn
Headline (noun) means the bold title printed above a newspaper or magazine article, summarizing its content. Example: “The newspaper's front-page headline made everyone on the train stop and stare.”
noun
1
The bold title printed above a newspaper or magazine article, summarizing its content.
"The newspaper's front-page headline made everyone on the train stop and stare."
"The headline announced the merger before readers even reached the first paragraph."
"Reporters try to write headlines that grab attention quickly."
verb
1
To be the main, top-billed performer at a concert or show.
"Her favourite singer will headline the final night of the music festival."
"Who is going to headline the show at the arena this weekend?"
"The band is set to headline the summer festival."
How to use headline
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe big title above a news story, or (as a verb) to top the bill at an event.
Common pairings
make headlines
headline act
grab the headlines
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Word forms
- Plural
- headlines
- Third person singular
- headlines
- Past tense
- headlined
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The newspaper's front-page _____ made everyone on the train stop and stare.
Etymology
From head plus line, originally the line of text sitting at the "head" of an article.
Related words
Rhymes for headline
See all rhymes for headline →Frequently asked questions
What does “headline” mean?
The word “headline” means the bold title printed above a newspaper or magazine article, summarizing its content. In plain terms, the big title above a news story, or (as a verb) to top the bill at an event.
How do you pronounce “headline”?
“Headline” is pronounced HEHD-lyn (/ˈhɛd.laɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “headline” in a sentence?
Here is “headline” used in a sentence: “The headline announced the merger before readers even reached the first paragraph.”
What part of speech is “headline”?
Depending on how it is used, “headline” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “headline” a common word?
“Headline” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “headline” have?
“Headline” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the bold title printed above a newspaper or magazine article, summarizing its content.
What is the difference between a headline and a title?
A headline is the bold title printed above a newspaper or magazine article, written to summarize the story and draw readers in. "Title" is the broader word, covering the names of books, films, songs, and other works — every headline is a kind of title, but not every title is a headline.
What is the difference between a headline and a heading?
A heading is a general label for any section of a document, report, or web page, while a headline is specifically the bold title above a news article, crafted to summarize and sell the story. Use "heading" for document structure and "headline" for journalism.
Example sentences
Sentences with a source are quoted from published work. Any opinions in them are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
The band will headline the festival on Saturday night.
A good headline tells the reader why the story matters to them.
The headline was catchy, but the article did not deliver on it.
She reads the headlines on her phone before getting out of bed.
The story made the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
A headline analyzer scores a headline out of 100 on length, word balance and emotional pull, and tells you exactly which word to cut.
From
Headline Analyzer
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