head off

verb

headed off; heading off; heads off

transitive verb

: to turn back or turn aside : block, prevent

head them off at the pass

attempts to head off the imminent crisis

Synonyms

• avert
• forestall
• help
• obviate
• preclude
• prevent
• stave off

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

Burt buys Irving a one-way ticket and wishes him well as Irving heads off into the unknown. —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 14 Mar. 2025

Gym and sports equipment will also be tariffed, though manufacturers may have stockpiled some materials in anticipation of the tariffs going into effect, enabling them to head off price hikes for a short period, Mosley noted. —Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2025

According to 2024 data, some 25 million Americans fear flying to some degree, which can interfere with travel plans and even lead some to stay home rather than head off on adventures of a lifetime. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2025

Parental guidance: Some parents are already missing the kids who will be headed off to college in the fall — others can’t wait. —Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for head off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff