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

• prevent
• avert

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

In March, more than a fifth of the employees at the Chicago Sun-Times took a buyout, including 23 reporters and editors, heading off potential layoffs in a sweeping cost-cutting initiative by nonprofit owner Chicago Public Media. —Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2025

After their graduation, which will take place at Hofstra University in Hempstead on Sunday, most of the twins are heading off to different colleges across the U.S. Aiden and Chloe Manzo, however, are both attending the University of Florida to study business — though with different majors. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 21 June 2025

After graduation Most of the twins at Plainview-Old Bethpage are heading off to different colleges. —Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025

Manchester City beat Wydad Casablanca, despite Rico Lewis just about taking an opponent’s head off. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 19 June 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