as in averted
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 headed off
When Riley and the Grinch headed off to USC, Johnson decided to follow their lead and served as a graduate assistant from 2022 to 2023.
—
Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
With Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley headed off to compete in the World Baseball Classic next month, the Twins should get an extended look at some of their rotation options.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 18 Feb. 2026
The trio and Peterson subsequently boarded a 1947 Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza airplane and headed off into poor winter weather conditions late at night.
—Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
Some of us headed off to bed; for others, another movie beckoned.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2026
The Moment lands between a celebrity thriller, reality television, and a pop concert documentary that’s headed off the rails.
—Anna Gaca, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
The colt won the Florida Derby and headed off to Louisville as one of the likely favorites — if not the favorite — for the Kentucky Derby.
—Clark Spencer, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Then at the other end shortly after, Diaz was brought down in the area as a corner came in, and several members of the Senegal team headed off the pitch and down the tunnel in protest when the referee awarded a penalty.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Morgan headed off in the morning to his job as a Boston Bruin for a matinee against the New York Rangers while his wife Emma, deep into her pregnancy, hitched a ride with another player’s wife to the game.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 13 Jan. 2026
Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
With Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley headed off to compete in the World Baseball Classic next month, the Twins should get an extended look at some of their rotation options.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 18 Feb. 2026
The trio and Peterson subsequently boarded a 1947 Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza airplane and headed off into poor winter weather conditions late at night.
—Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
Some of us headed off to bed; for others, another movie beckoned.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2026
The Moment lands between a celebrity thriller, reality television, and a pop concert documentary that’s headed off the rails.
—Anna Gaca, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
The colt won the Florida Derby and headed off to Louisville as one of the likely favorites — if not the favorite — for the Kentucky Derby.
—Clark Spencer, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Then at the other end shortly after, Diaz was brought down in the area as a corner came in, and several members of the Senegal team headed off the pitch and down the tunnel in protest when the referee awarded a penalty.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Morgan headed off in the morning to his job as a Boston Bruin for a matinee against the New York Rangers while his wife Emma, deep into her pregnancy, hitched a ride with another player’s wife to the game.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headed off
Verb
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San Diego Unified School District recently averted a one-day strike after reaching a tentative agreement with its teachers.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
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Today’s parents grew up in a world where vaccines averted preventable diseases, or at least lessened the toll of those illnesses if infection occurred.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Whether Musero can cite examples of work he was denied, prevented from going for or more in damages at said trial is a whole other matter.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2026
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On top of the internet, the 2010s had a city ordinance that prevented newsstands from selling food and drinks, which Da Costa notes was an important source of side income for many.—
Jason LeCras,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Headed off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headed%20off. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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