headline
gb/hˈɛdlˌaɪn/ us/hˈɛdlˌaɪn/
B1
English
~ 8200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
title of a news story
The main line of words at the top of a news story or ad, written in big letters to show what it is about.
Usage pattern:
a headline about [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "headline" for any kind of name or label, such as a book title or an email subject line. In normal use, "headline" is mainly for news stories, articles, or advertisements, not for all kinds of titles.
Synonyms
title (A general word for the name of any book, film, or article; not specific to news or large display text.)
|
heading (Often used for section titles inside documents, not just for news stories.)
Antonyms
body text (Refers to the main smaller text of an article, not the large title at the top.)
Collocations
newspaper headline
|front-page headline
|write a headline
|catchy headline
|clickbait headline
|headline story
Themes
media
|communication
|business
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The headline on the front page read "Government Faces Fresh Crisis."
- I clicked on the article because the headline sounded shocking.
- Editors changed the headline at the last minute to make it more accurate.
- That headline is misleading, even though the article itself is balanced.
Learner examples
- The newspaper headline is very big.
- I read the headline but not the full story.
- The headline says there was a big storm.
- She wrote the headline for the online article.
Noun
B2
state
2
being widely reported as news
When something is in the news in many places and many people hear about it.
Usage pattern:
[something] makes the headlines
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with the physical text of a headline. In "make headlines" or "hit the headlines," the focus is on getting wide news attention, not on writing or reading the title of a story.
Synonyms
publicity (General attention from the public and media; not always linked to hard news, and can include advertising or promotion.)
Antonyms
obscurity (Describes when someone or something is little known and not reported in the news.)
Collocations
make headlines
|hit the headlines
|grab the headlines
|be in the headlines
|international headlines
Themes
media
|society
|politics
|communication
Examples
- The data breach made global headlines within hours.
- Her sudden resignation hit the headlines the next morning.
- The charity rarely gets headlines, but it does important work.
- He seems to enjoy being in the headlines more than doing the actual job.
Learner examples
- The story made headlines around the world.
- The team was in the headlines after they won.
- The scandal hit the headlines last week.
- The singer does not like being in the headlines.
Noun
B2
entity
3
short main news summaries
Short sentences at the start of a TV or radio news show that say the main stories.
Usage pattern:
the headlines at [a time]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "headlines" here means only the written titles on a website. In broadcasting, "the headlines" are the short sentences spoken at the start of a news program.
Synonyms
news bulletin (A short news program or announcement; may include more detail than just quick headline sentences.)
Antonyms
in-depth report (A long, detailed piece of news, rather than short summary lines.)
Collocations
the news headlines
|morning headlines
|top headlines
|lunchtime headlines
|read the headlines
|listen to the headlines
Themes
media
|daily life
|communication
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- After the headlines, we will have a full report from our correspondent in Rome.
- I usually just catch the early headlines before going to work.
- Here are the main lunchtime headlines from the BBC.
- Stay with us after the headlines for more on this developing story.
Learner examples
- I listen to the news headlines every morning.
- The TV headlines start at six o'clock.
- After the headlines, they showed a long report.
- She missed the headlines, so she does not know the big stories today.
Verb
B2
action
4
be the main performer
To be the main star in a show or concert, and to be the name that is used to sell tickets.
Usage pattern:
to headline [a show / a festival / an event]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "headline" for any performer, not just the main one. In this sense, it should only describe the top or most important act at an event.
Synonyms
top the bill (A slightly more informal phrase, especially in British English, for being the main act on a program.)
Antonyms
support (In entertainment, a supporting act plays before the main performer and is not the main attraction.)
Collocations
headline a festival
|headline a tour
|headline the show
|headline the main stage
|headline the event
Themes
entertainment
|media
|arts_entertainment
|work
Examples
- She will headline the festival on Saturday night.
- A famous DJ is headlining the main stage this year.
- The band first headlined their own tour in 2019.
- Three major artists are set to headline the charity concert.
Learner examples
- A big rock band will headline the show.
- She is famous enough now to headline a world tour.
- Two singers will headline the music festival.
- They hope to headline their own concert next year.
Verb
C1
action
5
give a headline to something
To write or choose the main title for a news story or article.
Usage pattern:
to headline [article / story] "[words]"
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use this verb form in everyday speech where native speakers would more often say "call it" or "title it." The verb "headline" in this sense is mainly used in journalism, publishing, and media contexts.
Synonyms
entitle (A more formal verb for giving a book, article, or section its title; not limited to news writing.)
Antonyms
leave untitled (To publish or keep a piece of writing without giving it a title.)
Collocations
headlined "..."
|article headlined
|story headlined
|was headlined in large type
|headlined on the website
Themes
media
|writing
|communication
|work
Examples
- The article was headlined "Housing Crisis Deepens."
- Editors decided to headline the story more cautiously after new facts emerged.
- Most of the online pieces are headlined with questions to attract clicks.
- The magazine headlined the interview simply with her first name.
Learner examples
- The story was headlined "New Start for the City."
- They headlined the article with a short question.
- The website headlined the news in very big letters.
- The editor will headline the story later today.
Grammar
Dictionary form
headline
IPA
GB/hˈɛdlˌaɪn/
US/hˈɛdlˌaɪn/
Syllables & stress
head - line (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (head)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: headline
- Plural: headlines
Verb
- Base: headline
- 3rd Person Singular: headlines
- Present Participle: headlining
- Past: headlined
Word family
Forms
headlines
noun
headlining
verb
headlined
verb
Related words
headliner
noun
subheadline
noun
Expressions
grab the headlines
1/ɡɹˈæb ðə hˈɛdlˌaɪnz/
idiom
attract most media attention
To get most of the attention in the news, so that other stories seem less important.
Examples
- His shocking comments grabbed the headlines for days.
- The trade deal grabbed the headlines, while smaller changes went unnoticed.
- The celebrity wedding grabbed the headlines and pushed other stories aside.
headline act
1/hˈɛdlˌaɪn ˈækt/
fixed phrase
main performer at an event
The main star or band at a show or festival, whose name is used to sell tickets.
Examples
- She is the headline act at this year's music festival.
- The headline act canceled, so many fans asked for a refund.
- Several smaller bands will play before the headline act comes on stage.
headline figure
1/hˈɛdlˌaɪn fˈɪɡjɚ/
fixed phrase
main reported number
The main number that is reported in the news before giving extra details or special explanations.
Examples
- The headline figure for inflation was 6 percent last month.
- The headline unemployment figure does not include part-time workers.
- Politicians focused on the headline figure rather than the underlying data.
headline inflation
1/hˈɛdlˌaɪn ɪnflˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
overall reported inflation rate
The main number that shows how fast prices are rising in an economy, before looking at special parts like food or energy separately.
Examples
- Headline inflation fell to 4 percent in November.
- While headline inflation is slowing, food prices are still rising quickly.
- Central banks pay close attention to both headline inflation and core inflation.
headline news
1/hˈɛdlˌaɪn njˈuz/
fixed phrase
most important news stories
The biggest and most important news stories at a time.
Examples
- War in the region is once again headline news.
- Her resignation became headline news overnight.
- Today, rising prices are headline news in many countries.
hit the headlines
1/hˈɪt ðə hˈɛdlˌaɪnz/
idiom
suddenly become big news
To suddenly appear in the news and be widely reported.
Examples
- The scandal hit the headlines just before the election.
- She first hit the headlines when she was only sixteen.
- Environmental issues hit the headlines after the massive oil spill.
in the headlines
1/ˈɪn ðə hˈɛdlˌaɪnz/
fixed phrase
currently getting news coverage
Being talked about a lot in the news right now.
Examples
- Climate change is back in the headlines after the latest report.
- They enjoy being in the headlines, no matter the reason.
- That small town was suddenly in the headlines after the accident.
make headlines
1/mˈeɪk hˈɛdlˌaɪnz/
idiom
become major news
To be in the news and talked about in many newspapers, websites, or TV and radio shows.
Examples
- The footballer's arrest made headlines across Europe.
- Any mistake by the company will make headlines tomorrow.
- Their breakthrough discovery is sure to make headlines worldwide.