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.
When the woman finished praying and opened her eyes, the man and woman who’d run the scam were heading off with her money. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024 Harris will participate in radio interviews for stations in the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin before heading off to the results party. Haisten Willis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Nov. 2024 Fried leaves Atlanta and heads off to Boston to team back up with Giolito. Prediction: Boston Red Sox 4. David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024 In Lucerne, you’ll be treated to lunch with a local family before heading off to the famous wooden market stalls and a lovely Christmas carousel all while sipping warm Glühwein. Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 1 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 21 Nov. 2024.

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!