HEADING OFF Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

heading off

verb

Definition of heading off next

present participle of head off

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

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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 Before heading off to shower and change for the Barranquilla show, Balvin assessed his expectations for his beloved Colombian football team at the World Cup. —

Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 8 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 Ali Wentworth and George Stephanopoulos' daughter Elliott posed for a sweet shot with her dad before heading off to prom on June 2, 2021. —

Lindy Segal, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026 The moody space feels well-suited for a nightcap before heading off to bed. —

Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2026 Betts, Rice, Jaquez and Leger-Walker are heading off to begin their professional basketball careers with the WNBA draft that is scheduled to be held on April 13. —

Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 5 Apr. 2026 Both of the Kelce brothers went to Cincinnati before heading off to their respective NFL careers. —

Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 2 Apr. 2026 Happy families and college students heading off on spring break vacations are being helped every day by 61,000 unpaid TSA workers. —

Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026 He’s successfully advocated for creating new incentives for affordable housing construction and automatically renewing a program that freezes property values for some seniors, heading off big bill spikes from rising property values. —

A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for heading off

Verb

But in a complaint filed in federal court Tuesday, the Teamsters alleged the zoo had locked the workers out of the zoo’s computer system, preventing the zookeepers from accessing new medications and refills for the animals in their care.

— Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
One dose of the vaccine is 93% effective at preventing measles; a second dose boosts effectiveness even further — to 97%, according to the CDC.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026