Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Headlong
Head′longˊ
(-lŏngˊ; 115)
, adv.
[OE. ]
hedling
, hevedlynge
; prob. confused with E. long
, Adj.
& adv.
1.
With the head foremost; headforemost; head first;
as, to fall
. headlong
Acts i. 18.
2.
Rashly; precipitately; without deliberation.
3.
Hastily; without delay or respite.
Head′long
,Adj.
1.
Rash; precipitate;
as,
. headlong
folly2.
Steep; precipitous.
[Poetic]
Like a tower upon a
headlong
rock. Byron.
Webster 1828 Edition
Headlong
HEADLONG
,adv.
1.
Rashly; precipitately; without deliberation. --He hurries headlong to his fate.
2.
Hastily; without delay or respite.HEADLONG
,Adj.
1.
Rash; precipitate; as headlong folly.Definition 2024
headlong
headlong
English
Adverb
headlong (not comparable)
- With the head first or down.
- With an unrestrained forward motion.
- Figures out today show the economy plunging headlong into recession.
- Rashly; precipitately; without deliberation, in haste, hastily
Antonyms
- arselong (UK dialect)
Translations
with the head first or down
|
with an unrestrained forward motion
|
in haste, hastily, without deliberation
|
Adjective
headlong (comparative more headlong, superlative most headlong)
- Precipitous.
- Plunging downwards head foremost.
- Rushing forward without restraint.
- (figuratively) Reckless, impetuous.
- 1869, RD Blackmoore, Lorna Doone, II:
- “Time is up,” cried another boy, more headlong than head-monitor.
- 1869, RD Blackmoore, Lorna Doone, II:
Derived terms
Translations
precipitous
plunging downwards head foremost
|
rushing forward without restraint
|
Verb
headlong (third-person singular simple present headlongs, present participle headlonging, simple past and past participle headlonged)
- (transitive) To precipitate.
- 1862, Thomas Adams, The works of Thomas Adams:
- 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.
- 1905, Liberty Hyde Bailey, The outlook to nature:
- Carriages went up and down in endless pageant. Trolley-cars rushed by, clanging and grinding as they headlonged into the side streets.
- 1862, Thomas Adams, The works of Thomas Adams: