# head off

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/head-off
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to leave

phrasal verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to start a journey or leave a place to go somewhere else.

For teachers: to depart or begin a journey. This sense is intransitive and often used in casual conversation.

- It is getting late, so I think I will head off now.
- After the final presentation concluded, the delegates began to head off to their respective hotels before the evening gala.

Usage: Intransitive; does not take a direct object.

### 2. to prevent something

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to stop something from happening, especially something bad or a problem.

For teachers: to forestall or prevent an undesirable event or situation from developing.

- The company lowered its prices to head off a drop in sales.
- The administration introduced new regulations in an attempt to head off a potential financial crisis before the markets opened on Monday.

Usage: Transitive; takes a direct object.

### 3. to intercept

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to get in front of someone or something to stop them or change their direction.

For teachers: to move in front of a person or animal in order to intercept them or force a change in direction.

- The police tried to head off the stolen car at the next intersection.
- The scouts were sent ahead to head off the herd before it reached the narrow mountain pass.

Usage: Transitive; takes a direct object.

## Examples

- It's getting late, so I should head off now.
- The police managed to head off the protesters before they reached the main square.
- By addressing the technical glitches early in the development cycle, the team was able to head off a potential disaster during the product launch.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: distinguish between the intransitive sense of departure and the transitive sense of prevention; the latter often collocates with 'problems' or 'disasters'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.