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
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Recent Examples of heading off
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
Couples who choose to sleep apart can still nurture connection and intimacy by sharing an evening wind-down routine before heading off to separate sleeping arrangements, Troxel suggested.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
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
Couples who choose to sleep apart can still nurture connection and intimacy by sharing an evening wind-down routine before heading off to separate sleeping arrangements, Troxel suggested.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heading off
Verb
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Fiber slows digestion, preventing sharp glucose spikes while delivering antioxidants that protect brain cells.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
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Coronary heart disease occurs when fatty deposits called plaque build up in the heart’s arteries, preventing them from delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.—
Barbara Mantel,
NBC news,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The comments were part of a surge in diplomacy aimed at averting conflict; Qatar’s prime minister visited Tehran, while a senior Iranian official traveled to Moscow.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Feb. 2026
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The agreement is intended to give lawmakers more time to address Democratic demands to curb ICE tactics while averting a partial government shutdown.—
Ana Ceballos,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heading off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heading%20off. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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