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

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.
Guests sipped espresso martinis and shimmied to a band performing camp classics from the Pointer Sisters to Tina Turner before heading off into the typically drizzly London night. Liam Hess, Vogue, 2 Dec. 2024 Now streaming on Prime Video, the coming-of-age tale with a dash of fantasy centers on 18-year-old Elliott (Maisy Stella), who’s in the process of enjoying her final lakeside summer before heading off to the University of Toronto. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Nov. 2024 According to the foundation, Germany needs almost 300,000 new workers per year until 2040 to head off the worst effects of demographic decline. Frey Lindsay, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024 California is already looking to head off any moves by President-elect Donald Trump to slash electric vehicle subsidies — the latest sign of uncertainty for EVs next year that some analysts say prospective buyers should think about now. J.j. McCorvey, NBC News, 26 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for head off 

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near head off

Cite this Entry

“Head off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/head%20off. Accessed 16 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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