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.
Here’s what to know before heading off to the game. Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025 Later, after crossing the Southwest runway, the plane was directed to head off to a section of the airport and call the control tower. Sarah Freishtat, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025 Pendry, 81, sat down with The San Diego Union-Tribune on Tuesday to discuss invisibility cloaks before heading off to lunch at Point Loma Nazarene University. Gary Robbins, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2025 This means strong oversight and safeguards to head off unintended consequences. Brian Neely, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Head off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/head%20off. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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