head off

verb

headed off; heading off; heads off
Synonyms of head offnext

transitive verb

: to turn back or turn aside : block, prevent
head them off at the pass
attempts to head off the imminent crisis

intransitive verb

: to go to another place
See you later—I'm heading off to work.

Synonyms of head off

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Examples of head off in a Sentence

if we act quickly, we may still be able to head off disaster
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
He was dedicated to the sport and competed regionally and locally in the Midwest, winning competitions before heading off to college. — Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 Hitting that marker is expected to trigger another in the series of partisan showdowns in Washington over the years to head off a potentially devastating US payments default. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026 Both countries had incentives to head off an escalation in trade tensions. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 As Oliver heads off in search of enlightenment, his family tracks him through the location-sharing app. — Maureen Kerr, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for head off

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of head off was in 1825

Rhymes for head off

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Browse Nearby Words

headnote
head off
head of horns
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Cite this Entry

“Head off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/head%20off. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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