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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Recent Examples of head off
That’s led to a stark split between Wall Street analysts and energy experts, who have been warning that oil supplies could head off a cliff in the coming months or even weeks, dragging the global economy down in the process.
—
Jason Ma, Fortune, 10 May 2026
In Starmer’s first year in office, his team sought to head off Reform’s surge by appealing to right-wing voters with tougher rhetoric and policies on immigration.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
That passage is almost certainly a way to head off negative reviews of the pavilion, as well as a response to the controversy surrounding Allen’s selection, including the pavilion’s commissioner, the American Arts Conservancy, a year-old nonprofit headed by someone with no museum experience.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 6 May 2026
The Twins will have Monday off before heading off on a six-game road trip that will take them to Washington and Cleveland.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for head off
Jason Ma, Fortune, 10 May 2026
In Starmer’s first year in office, his team sought to head off Reform’s surge by appealing to right-wing voters with tougher rhetoric and policies on immigration.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
That passage is almost certainly a way to head off negative reviews of the pavilion, as well as a response to the controversy surrounding Allen’s selection, including the pavilion’s commissioner, the American Arts Conservancy, a year-old nonprofit headed by someone with no museum experience.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 6 May 2026
The Twins will have Monday off before heading off on a six-game road trip that will take them to Washington and Cleveland.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for head off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head off
Verb
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Ibrahim’s injuries prevent him from working, so Hiba supports the household, often picking up private cleaning jobs from Facebook ads.—
Annie Hylton,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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Plus, the addition of a cuff adds a more polished aesthetic that prevents you from looking frumpy at the office or dinner.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
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Good Omens is the story of an angel, Aziraphale (Sheen), and a demon, Crowley (Tennant), who gradually become friends over the millennia and team up to avert Armageddon.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Head off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head%20off. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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