headed off

verb

past tense of head off
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

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 headed off With his new Nebraska collegiate ball cap and now headed off to university, the sleeper agent has some vital decisions to make way beyond declaring a major. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 17 Oct. 2026 After the nuptials, the newlyweds headed off on a honeymoon in Llandudno, a seaside resort on the north coast of Wales. — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026 Snell threw two pitches to Hao-Yu Lee and then, after a conversation with home plate umpire Chris Guccione, headed off the field and disappeared down the dugout tunnel. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 Afterward, everyone but National League All-Star Crow-Armstrong headed off for parts unknown for a brief respite and a chance to decompress before the second half. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2026 Prince George is headed off to Eton come September, and on his very first day, the 12-year-old future king (who will have turned 13 by that point) will have a test to face. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 30 June 2026 Price and her dogs then ran from the area while the bear headed off in the opposite direction. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026 In Rouen, a small group headed off to the D-Day landing beaches, one of Uniworld’s Masterpiece Collection experiences (available at an additional cost), while in Vernon, a visit to a local cider farm was a hit with passengers. — Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026 With both clubs headed off to European finals, the only real jeopardy in the game came from injuries. — James McNicholas, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headed off
  1. averted
  2. prevented
Verb
  • Jackson averted a suspension ahead of this season when authorities declined to file formal criminal charges after he was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Each time the door shut behind the man, Shawn had the feeling that some danger had been temporarily dodged, some crisis averted until the next day.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of averted
Verb
  • The needs of Taiz's more than 1 million residents are now barely being met, humanitarian groups say, as access to wells is limited, desalination plants run low on fuel and water delivery trucks are largely prevented from entering the city.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The win also prevented Indiana from suffering its first two-game losing streak in three years under coach Curt Cignetti and marked the Hoosiers’ first victory at Michigan Stadium since 1967.
    — Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of prevented

Browse Nearby Words

headed
headed off
header
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Cite this Entry

“Headed off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headed%20off. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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