headlong — English Dictionary

Adverb

1. With the head first or down.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Synonyms

   head first

   Antonyms

   feet first

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   [A] sharp-looking old dame, […] inhabited a "laigh [low] shop," anglicé [in English], a cellar, opening to the High-street by a strait and steep stair, at the bottom of which she sold tape, thread, needles, skeans of worsted, coarse linen cloth, and such feminine gear, to those who had the courage and skill to descend to the profundity of her dwelling, without falling headlong themselves, or throwing down any of the numerous articles which, piled on each side of the descent, indicated the profession of the trader below.

2. With an unrestrained forward motion.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   Figures out today show the economy plunging headlong into recession.

   More examples (2)

   When his eyes were clear again, he saw the monster had passed and was rushing landward. Big iron upper-works rose out of this headlong structure, and from that twin funnels projected, and spat a smoking blast shot with fire into the air. It was the torpedo-ram, Thunder Child, steaming headlong, coming to the rescue of the threatened shipping.

   Realizing he is now boxed in on all sides, Hipper decides the only remaining card he has to play is to sell his ships as dearly as possible. The remaining German ships make a hard turn southeast, and drive headlong at the Grand Fleet. It is a brave gesture, but only eight of the ships emerge from the pall of smoke that roughly marks the original German line of advance. Two more emerge minutes later, but that is all.

   I felt deja vu as I recalled a video in which a Tesla owner slammed on the brakes after his car appeared set on crashing headlong into a construction site.

3. Rashly; precipitately; without deliberation; in haste, hastily.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

Adjective

1. Precipitous.

   Examples

   Their path led them past sharp cliffs, along narrow trails unknown and untrodden, past headlong boulders strewn across barren, treeless, wind-haunted heights.

2. Plunging downwards head foremost.

   Examples

   On sighting their prey, they check their flight and hurtle in a headlong dive to the sea.

3. Rushing forward without restraint.

   Examples

   Bumps, bruises, and scratches are often the result of their efforts to outstrip each other in the headlong race.

4. Reckless; impetuous.

   Usage

   • Figurative

   Examples

   “Time is up,” cried another boy, more headlong than head-monitor.

Verb

1. To precipitate.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   If a stranger be setting his pace and face toward some deep pit, or steep rock — such a precipice as the cliffs of Dover — how do we cry aloud to have him return ? yet in mean time forget the course of our own sinful ignorance, that headlongs us to confusion.

   Carriages went up and down in endless pageant. Trolley-cars rushed by, clanging and grinding as they headlonged into the side streets.

Adjective

1. excessively quick

   Synonyms

   hasty

   Examples

   made a hasty exit

   a headlong rush to sell

2. with the head foremost

   Synonyms

   headfirst

   Examples

   a headfirst plunge down the stairs

   a headlong dive into the pool

Adverb

1. with the head before the body

   Synonyms

   headfirst

   Examples

   the runner slid headlong into third base

2. at breakneck speed

   Synonyms

   precipitately

   Examples

   burst headlong through the gate

3. in a hasty and foolhardy manner

   Synonyms

   rashly

   Examples

   he fell headlong in love with his cousin