headland

noun

ˈhed-lənd How to pronounce headland (audio)
Definition of headlandnext
1
as in peninsula
an area of high ground jutting out into a body of water beyond the line of the coast the lighthouse, situated on a narrow, rocky headland, commands an expansive view of the coast

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in cape
an area of land that juts out into a body of water navigation is notoriously difficult at the southernmost tip of South America, where ships must round the headland of Cape Horn

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of headland With gusts potentially topping 35 mph – and likely faster near beaches and headlands – trees and power lines are at risk of being knocked down, the Pacific County Emergency Management Agency warned. — Hallie Golden and Christopher Weber, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Nov. 2024 Full disclosure: My exposure to the Buzz began driving from down San Francisco’s automotive Mobius strip — the infinitely twisty Lombard Street — and continued around the city, across the Golden Gate Bridge, into the Marin headlands and beyond. — Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 21 Oct. 2024 Travelers walk on warm sand towards sacred headlands, overlook the Coral Sea, and nibble on bushfood. — Riley Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2024 Out of nowhere, the headland came with one huge stride, and was right on top of them. — Tomas Tranströmer, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for headland
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headland
  1. peninsula
  2. cape
  3. promontory
Noun
  • But one company has found a way to harness the harsh conditions of the Arabian peninsula and grow fresh food all year round.
    — Mike Scott, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Multiple great white sharks have pinged off the coasts of Florida in recent weeks as spring break tourists descend on the peninsula.
    — Kim Luciani, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of peninsula
Noun
  • Uzo Aduba dons a detective’s cape in ‘The Residence’ — now streaming on Netflix.
    — Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Read more >>> A cape fit for a queen Since the 1950s, one family has handcrafted the slipper-satin cape worn by each year’s St. Patrick’s Day queen.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of cape
Noun
  • Rooms vary widely at Eden Rock, with especially coveted idiosyncratic floorplans on the scenic promontory.
    — Rachel Fletcher, Architectural Digest, 20 Feb. 2025
  • The formal composition at work in that portrait is even more evident in Han’s aerial landscapes, shot from bridges and promontories.
    — E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 18 Jan. 2025
Definition of promontory

Browse Nearby Words

headland
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Headland.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headland. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on headland

Nglish: Translation of headland for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All