# headline

/ˈhɛdˌɫaɪn/ (US) · /hˈɛdlaɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/headline
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. news title

noun · CEFR B1

the title of a newspaper or magazine article, usually printed in large, bold letters.

For teachers: the heading or title of a journalistic piece, designed to summarise the content and attract reader attention.

- The front-page headline announced that the local team had won the championship.
- Sub-editors often spend hours crafting a punchy headline that balances factual accuracy with the need to drive digital engagement.

### 2. main attraction

noun · CEFR B2

the most important person or group performing at an event.

For teachers: the principal performer or act in a programme, typically receiving the most prominent billing.

- Fans waited for hours in the rain to see the festival headline.
- The festival organisers struggled to find a suitable headline after the original rock band cancelled their European tour.

### 3. to be the main act

verb · CEFR B2

to be the main performer at a concert or show.

For teachers: to appear as the star or main attraction of a performance; functions as both a transitive and intransitive verb.

- A famous jazz singer will headline the charity concert next month.
- After years of playing small clubs, the indie band was finally invited to headline the main stage at Glastonbury.

### 4. nautical rope

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a rope used on a ship to attach a sail to a wooden pole.

For teachers: a headrope used in a nautical context to secure the head of a sail to a yard or stay.

- The sailor checked the headline to make sure the sail was secure.
- The crew worked quickly to repair the frayed headline before the storm winds could tear the mainsail from the yard.

Usage: Used specifically in maritime and sailing contexts.

## Examples

- The morning headline says that the storm is coming.
- The editor spent an hour trying to write a catchy headline that would grab the readers' attention without being misleading.
- While the sensational headline dominated social media feeds for several days, the actual article provided a much more nuanced analysis of the economic policy changes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.