headlong
headlong — adverb
1. doing something very quickly, without taking time to think about the possible da
doing something very quickly, without taking time to think about the possible dangers or results of your action.
Andrés rushed headlong into the deal without reading a single page of the contract.
rush headlong into [something]
Yuki rushed headlong into adopting new software without checking if her team could use it.
rush headlong into [gerund]
Hao rushed headlong into resigning after only one difficult week at work.
The company plunged headlong into a new market without studying local customer habits.
- recklessly
stronger focus on ignoring known dangers; headlong emphasises speed and lack of thought
- hastily
emphasises speed more than recklessness; does not imply danger
- precipitately
more formal; suggests acting suddenly without preparation
- cautiously
acting with care and forethought
- deliberately
taking time to think before acting
文法句型
rush/dive/plunge headlong + into [something]
用法筆記
Frequently paired with verbs of movement or action such as rush, dive, plunge, or charge to emphasise the lack of caution.
常見錯誤
2. in a position where your head goes before the rest of your body, especially when
in a position where your head goes before the rest of your body, especially when falling, diving, or rushing forward.
The child tripped on the top step and fell headlong down the entire staircase.
Trang dove headlong off the wooden dock into the cool lake water.
dive headlong
Amelia slipped on the wet kitchen floor and tumbled headlong, landing on her side.
The firefighter plunged headlong through the smoky doorway to reach the family inside.
- headfirst
more common everyday word for literal head-first movement; headlong sounds slightly more literary
- feet first
entering a body of water or landing with feet leading
文法句型
fall/tumble/dive headlong
用法筆記
Describes physical body position, not rash behaviour. Distinguish from sense 1 (RASHLY), where headlong is figurative rather than literal.
headlong — adjective
- headlongpositive
- more headlongcomparative
- most headlongsuperlative
1. describes a slope, drop, or descent that goes downward at a very sharp angle, al
describes a slope, drop, or descent that goes downward at a very sharp angle, almost straight down.
The hikers stopped at the edge of a headlong cliff over three hundred metres high.
A headlong drop of nearly four hundred feet lay beyond the narrow mountain path.
headlong drop
Driving on the old road was dangerous because of its headlong slopes and sharp turns.
The hikers stared down a headlong hillside covered in loose rocks and dry bushes.
- precipitous
more formal and less common; suggests an abrupt, dangerous drop
- sheer
implies a vertical or near-vertical drop rather than a steep slope
- gentle
describes a gradual, easy slope
文法句型
headlong + [noun] — e.g. headlong cliff, headlong drop
2. done or acting with too much speed and very little thought, in a way that often
done or acting with too much speed and very little thought, in a way that often leads to bad results.
The manager's headlong approach to cost-cutting left the customer service team in chaos.
headlong approach
Aarav's headlong style of investing worried his financial advisor.
The country's headlong push for industrial growth damaged large areas of farmland.
Nkechi warned the board against making a headlong commitment to the untested technology.
- precipitate
more formal; suggests sudden action without enough preparation
- rash
commoner; emphasises the foolishness of the action
- cautious
showing careful thought before acting
- deliberate
done slowly and carefully on purpose
文法句型
headlong + [noun of action] — e.g. headlong rush, headlong approach
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive), not after a linking verb. You can describe 'a headlong rush' but not 'the rush was headlong.'
常見錯誤
3. moving or dropping forward with the head and upper part of the body going first,
moving or dropping forward with the head and upper part of the body going first, usually in a dive, fall, or leap.
The goalkeeper made a headlong dive and stopped the ball with his fingertips.
headlong dive
A headlong plunge from the high diving board sent water splashing over the pool edge.
headlong plunge
The stunt performer rehearsed a headlong fall onto the padded floor for the action scene.
Quan's headlong leap from the truck was risky but he landed safely on soft grass.
- headfirst
more everyday word; headlong is more dramatic and literary
文法句型
headlong + [noun of motion] — e.g. headlong dive, headlong fall
用法筆記
Describes physical position and direction, not behaviour. Distinguish from sense 2 (RECKLESS), which is figurative.