headlong

[ hed-lawng, -long ]
/ ˈhɛdˌlɔŋ, -ˌlɒŋ /

adverb

with the head foremost; headfirst: to plunge headlong into the water.
without delay; hastily: to plunge headlong into work.
without deliberation; rashly: to rush headlong into battle.

adjective

undertaken quickly and suddenly; made precipitately; hasty: a headlong flight.
rash; impetuous: a headlong denunciation.
done or going with the head foremost: a headlong dive into the pool.

Origin of headlong

1350–1400; Middle English hedlong, earlier hedling. See head, -ling2

OTHER WORDS FROM headlong

head·long·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH headlong

headlong headstrong

Example sentences from the Web for headlong

British Dictionary definitions for headlong

headlong
/ (ˈhɛdˌlɒŋ) /

adverb, adjective

with the head foremost; headfirst
with great haste

adjective

archaic (of slopes, etc) very steep; precipitous