WordGarden.ioheadline
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈɛdlaɪn/
US
- /ˈhɛdˌlaɪn/
Meanings
Noun
the title at the top of a news story or article
a main or especially prominent news item
Verb
to be the main performer, speaker, or featured attraction at an event
to give a story or article a headline
Beyond the definition
A headline is the title above a news story, article, or online post. Its job is to catch your eye and quickly tell you what the piece is about. You can think of it as the first quick signal that says, "This is the story." A good one is short, clear, and interesting enough to make you want to keep reading.
Sometimes it is calm and factual, and sometimes it is dramatic or playful, but it should still match the content below. You might read "Local Baker Wins National Award!" and understand the story at once. In entertainment, "headline" can also be used as a verb or noun for the main act, as in a famous singer headlining a festival.
A headline is the text designed to capture attention and summarize the main idea of a news story, article, or other piece of content. It's the first thing most people see, so it needs to be impactful and informative. Think of it as the storefront window of a shop—it has to entice you to come inside.
Historically, the term comes from the lines of text printed at the head, or top, of a page. Today, headlines appear across many kinds of media, from newspapers and magazines to blogs and social media feeds. A strong headline is usually concise, clear, and direct. It should reflect the story honestly rather than mislead the reader. For example, "Scientists Discover New Species of Butterfly in the Amazon" gives the topic clearly and simply.
Headlines can also be creative. They may use alliteration, strong verbs, or a question to spark interest, such as "Perfect Pizza Place Opens Downtown" or "Is Artificial Intelligence Taking Over?" Even then, the best ones do not promise something the story does not deliver.
Beyond news writing, "headline" is also used in entertainment. To "headline" a show means to be the main performer or star attraction, such as a band headlining a music festival. The word can also be used more loosely for the biggest or most noticeable point in a situation. Whether it introduces breaking news or names the top act on a poster, a headline points you to what matters most first.
Examples
- 1
News article
I saw a headline about the storm on the front page.
- 2
Misleading news
One misleading headline made people think the school was closing.
- 3
Quick reading
She only had time to skim the headlines before work.
- Phraseskim the headlines
read them quickly, without reading the full articles
- 4
Celebrity news
The actor made headlines after his surprise resignation.
- Phrasemake headlines
get a lot of attention in the news
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Ongoing attention
The scandal kept the company in the headlines for weeks.
- Phrasein the headlines
receiving a lot of news attention
- 6
Political attention
Some politicians prefer ideas that grab headlines but change very little.
- Phrasegrab headlines
attract a lot of media attention
- 7
Debate topic
Jobs and housing were the headline issues in the mayoral debate.
- Phraseheadline issue
the main or most noticed issue
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- body text
Used with (collocations)
- write a headline
- front-page headline
- catchy headline
- headline news
Word family
Explore
- subheading
- lede
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- headlinenounverb
Forms
- headlinespluralnounverb
- headlining-ing formverbnoun
- headlinedpast tenseverbnoun