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
After some quality time together on Lake Minnetonka last weekend, members of the Minnesota Wild are headed off in all directions to spend the summer months.
—
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 19 May 2026
Though these days, ARod has a little more time on his hands now that his youngest daughter is headed off to college at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
Last May, the Ghostbusters actress shared another rare glimpse of Vivian as the high schooler headed off to her prom.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
The environmentally responsible growth boundaries, approved by voters in 1990 and renewed in 2006, headed off the threat of development up the slopes of Mount Diablo and on farmland and scenic ridges.
—East Bay Times Editorial, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
That’s how, last night, the best golfer most of us have ever seen slinked out of a Florida jail shortly before midnight and headed off into an uncertain future.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Slotkin said her legislation could have headed off that split.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 17 Mar. 2026
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
Some of us headed off to bed; for others, another movie beckoned.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2026
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 19 May 2026
Though these days, ARod has a little more time on his hands now that his youngest daughter is headed off to college at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
Last May, the Ghostbusters actress shared another rare glimpse of Vivian as the high schooler headed off to her prom.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
The environmentally responsible growth boundaries, approved by voters in 1990 and renewed in 2006, headed off the threat of development up the slopes of Mount Diablo and on farmland and scenic ridges.
—East Bay Times Editorial, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
That’s how, last night, the best golfer most of us have ever seen slinked out of a Florida jail shortly before midnight and headed off into an uncertain future.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Slotkin said her legislation could have headed off that split.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 17 Mar. 2026
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
Some of us headed off to bed; for others, another movie beckoned.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headed off
Verb
-
But Schumer and nine other Senate Democrats voted to advance the bill, and the shutdown was averted.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Even while doing so, adversity can’t be averted.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Reconomy identified several structural barriers across sectors that have prevented B2B textile circularity solutions from scaling to meet the demands of waste production.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
-
Her basketball schedule had prevented the former Iowa star from previously participating in race week activities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Headed off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headed%20off. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
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