as in preventing
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
if we act quickly, we may still be able to head off disaster
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of heading off
Witt will spend a few weeks in camp before heading off to join Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
—
Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
Cochran left home for Charlotte in 2008 to study at Johnson & Wales, earning double degrees in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management before heading off to New York in search of great things.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
Same with traffic heading off to the left of the turnpike to get to the plaza bathrooms and fast-food windows.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
The pair attended Centennial High School before both heading off to the University of Georgia.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
So significant is the surge in stylish guys heading off to the Alps or the Hakuba Valley that Jordan’s ski sales were dramatically higher at the start of the season.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 1 Feb. 2026
Trump put intense pressure on five Republican senators who joined with Democrats to advance the resolution last week and ultimately prevailed in heading off passage of the legislation.
—Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
The actress was also filmed getting final makeup touch-ups before heading off to the ceremony.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
His moves often came in an effort to directly replace a player heading off the roster (like Adam Larsson).
—Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
Cochran left home for Charlotte in 2008 to study at Johnson & Wales, earning double degrees in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management before heading off to New York in search of great things.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
Same with traffic heading off to the left of the turnpike to get to the plaza bathrooms and fast-food windows.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
The pair attended Centennial High School before both heading off to the University of Georgia.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
So significant is the surge in stylish guys heading off to the Alps or the Hakuba Valley that Jordan’s ski sales were dramatically higher at the start of the season.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 1 Feb. 2026
Trump put intense pressure on five Republican senators who joined with Democrats to advance the resolution last week and ultimately prevailed in heading off passage of the legislation.
—Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
The actress was also filmed getting final makeup touch-ups before heading off to the ceremony.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
His moves often came in an effort to directly replace a player heading off the roster (like Adam Larsson).
—Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heading off
Verb
-
Even worse, that money was supposed to go toward preventing and reversing drug overdoses amid an ongoing opioid epidemic.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Some lawmakers view Trump’s order skeptically at best, noting the administration has been removing guardrails, and preventing others from erecting them, to an extreme degree.—
Darius Tahir,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The countries are set for another round of nuclear talks on Tuesday aimed at reaching an agreement and averting a war.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Those demands will be at the center of negotiations this week over averting a DHS shutdown.—
Sophie Brams,
The Hill,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heading off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heading%20off. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
