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
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 head off
Does somebody trip at one point and blow their own head off?
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
After laughing my head off all evening, there was a moment, just before the night ended, when my eyes teared up.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
Schools should certainly issue these and any other instructions that might head off offensive behavior.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
The biggest unknown is the Evangeline Groundwater Project, which involves a pipeline and about two dozen wells that could add enough water to head off an emergency.
—ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for head off
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
After laughing my head off all evening, there was a moment, just before the night ended, when my eyes teared up.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
Schools should certainly issue these and any other instructions that might head off offensive behavior.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
The biggest unknown is the Evangeline Groundwater Project, which involves a pipeline and about two dozen wells that could add enough water to head off an emergency.
—ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for head off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head off
Verb
-
Section Two of the 1965 Voting Rights Act aimed to prevent mapmakers from weakening the voting power of racial minorities by either packing them into one district or spreading them out across too many districts to have an impact.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
British monarchs are subject to rules and norms meant to prevent them from taking overtly political stands.—
Emma Caughlan,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The latest domino to fall is Spirit Airlines, which is on the brink of collapse with no good options to avert it.—
Elaine Parker,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Matt Duchene tied it for Dallas on a power play midway through the third period, seconds after his backcheck on Matt Boldy averted a short-handed goal that would've put Minnesota up by two.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Head off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head%20off. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
