adv
headlong
HEHD-long
adv
1
Head first, or with reckless, unrestrained speed.
"He dove headlong into the pool without checking the depth."
"The company rushed headlong into the deal without doing its research."
adj
1
Rash, hasty, or plunging forward without thinking things through.
"Her headlong decision to quit surprised everyone at the office."
How to Use Headlong
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRushing forward carelessly or at full speed, without stopping to think.
Common pairings
rush headlong
plunge headlong
headlong rush
Word Forms
more headlong comparative, headlonged past tense, headlongs singular, most headlong superlative
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Etymology
From Middle English hedlong, an old form reshaped by association with the word long, ultimately tied to head.