headline

UK: /ˈhɛdlaɪn/ US: /ˈhɛdˌlaɪn/ ,(hed′līn′)

Inflections of 'headline' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

headlines

v 3rd person singular

headlining

v pres p

headlined

v past

headlined

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

head•line /ˈhɛdˌlaɪn/   n., v., -lined, -lin•ing. 
n. [countable] Also called head. 

1. Journalism a statement printed in large letters at the beginning of a newspaper article, summarizing the subject of the article.
2. Journalism headlines, [plural] news stories important enough to appear on the front page of newspapers:
   The peace conference has been in the headlines all week.

v. 

3. Journalism [~ + object] to furnish with a headline.
4. Show Business [no object] to be the star of a show, nightclub act, etc.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

head•line  (hed′līn′), n., v., -lined, -lin•ing. 
n. Also called head. 

1. Printing a heading in a newspaper for any written material, sometimes for an illustration, to indicate subject matter, set in larger type than that of the copy and containing one or more words and lines and often several banks.
2. Printing the largest such heading on the front page, usually at the top.
3. Printing the line at the top of a page, containing the title, pagination, etc.

v.t. 

4. Printing to furnish with a headline;
   head.
5. to mention or name in a headline.
6. Show Business to publicize, feature, or star (a specific performer, product, etc.).
7. Show Business to be the star of (a show, nightclub act, etc.)

v.i. 

8. Show Business to be the star of an entertainment.

• head + line¹ 1620–30

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

headline / ˈhɛdˌlaɪn/ noun

1. Also called: head, heading a phrase at the top of a newspaper or magazine article indicating the subject of the article, usually in larger and heavier type
2. a line at the top of a page indicating the title, page number, etc
3. (modifier) denoting an important piece of news: headline news
4. (modifier) denoting the main performer at a concert or music festival: the headline act at Glastonbury
5. (usually plural) the main points of a television or radio news broadcast, read out before the full broadcast and summarized at the end
6. hit the headlines ⇒ to become prominent in the news

verb

1. (transitive) to furnish (a story or page) with a headline
2. to have top billing (in)