Phrasal verb
head for
Definition
phrasal verb. to move in a particular direction or toward a specific place.
phrasal verb. to move toward a destination or a specific state of affairs; the particle 'for' indicates the intended goal or direction.
Examples
“We should head for the station now.”
“If the rain starts, everyone will head for the nearest shelter.”
“The company is heading for a financial crisis if they do not reduce their spending immediately.”
Examples
simple
“We should head for the station now.”
contextual
“If the rain starts, everyone will head for the nearest shelter.”
complex
“The company is heading for a financial crisis if they do not reduce their spending immediately.”
Usage
usually followed by a physical destination or a figurative outcome.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'head to' (which focuses on the destination itself) versus 'head for' (which often implies the start of the journey or a needed destination).
Pitfall
They headed for to the beach.
They headed for the beach.
the preposition 'for' already indicates direction, so 'to' is redundant and incorrect.
Phrasal verb
Particles
for
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
head + for + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/head-for