as in to prevent
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
if we act quickly, we may still be able to head off disaster
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of head off
Even if those details are years away from mattering, having everyone on the same page now can head off confusion (or conflict) later.
—
Andrew Rosen, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
For the first time since kindergarten, Jimmy Snuggerud isn’t headed off to school this year.
—Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2025
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole showed only a mildly dovish tone toward monetary policy, but that was all markets needed to head off to the races.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2025
Joanna additionally shared an Instagram reel enjoying one last family dinner before two of her kids head off to college.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for head off
Andrew Rosen, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
For the first time since kindergarten, Jimmy Snuggerud isn’t headed off to school this year.
—Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2025
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole showed only a mildly dovish tone toward monetary policy, but that was all markets needed to head off to the races.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2025
Joanna additionally shared an Instagram reel enjoying one last family dinner before two of her kids head off to college.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for head off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head off
Verb
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On the southwestern side of the fire, hand crews and dozers began building new containment lines along Sycamore Ridge Road to prevent the westward spread of the fire from the Dinkey Creek drainage and cut the fire off close to its active edge.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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When in a group, space out to prevent the current from transferring between individuals.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Senate Democrats are attempting to wield their leverage over Republicans, who will need their help in a few weeks to clear a 60-vote filibuster and avert the latest shutdown deadline.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
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Advertisement The tough talk coming from Democrats now is not all that different from what some of them were saying in March, just before Schumer and other Senate Democrats gave in and averted a shutdown.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Head off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head%20off. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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