headlong

[hed-lawng, -long]

adverb

1. with the head foremost; headfirst.

   to plunge headlong into the water.

2. without delay; hastily.

   to plunge headlong into work.

3. without deliberation; rashly.

   to rush headlong into battle.

adjective

1. undertaken quickly and suddenly; made precipitately; hasty.

   a headlong flight.

2. rash; impetuous.

   a headlong denunciation.

3. done or going with the head foremost.

   a headlong dive into the pool.

headlong

/ ˈhɛdˌlɒŋ /

adverb

1. with the head foremost; headfirst

2. with great haste

adjective

1. archaic,  (of slopes, etc) very steep; precipitous

Other Word Forms

• headlongness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of headlong¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English hedlong, earlier hedling; head, -ling ²

Example Sentences

No matter how chaotic my history, I can learn how to safeguard my serenity so I don’t have to drag people into my drama anymore or leap headlong into theirs.

From Los Angeles Times

A classroom of third graders has vanished in the middle of the night, each child running headlong into the shadows with their limbs outstretched like paper planes.

From Los Angeles Times

Her efforts ran headlong into what would become the worst drug shortage in modern history.

From Salon

The army has been in headlong retreat from the Arakan Army since the beginning of the year, losing town after town.

From BBC

One woman brandished a Georgian flag as she braved a stream of water cannon, while another walked headlong into a barricade of police standing behind riot shields.

From BBC

Related Words

• breakneck 
• hurried 
• sudden