verb
Meaning 1
To begin moving away.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
- We will head off on our holidays tomorrow.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Phrase guide
head off
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
verb
Meaning 2
To intercept.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
- The cavalry will head off the bandits at the pass.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: cut off
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 3
To avoid the undesirable consequences of; to prevent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
- The government took steps to head off summertime shortages of gasoline.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 4
To start out.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 5
To turn away from the wind.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 6
prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- Let's avoid a confrontation
- head off a confrontation
- avert a strike
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: debar, forefend, forfend, obviate, deflect, avert, stave off, fend off, avoid, ward off
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: prevent, forestall, foreclose, preclude, forbid
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
13 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Finnish: lähteä — to begin moving away
- German: abhauen — to begin moving away
- German: starten — to begin moving away
- Spanish: echarse a andar — to begin moving away
- Finnish: torjua — to intercept
- Finnish: pysäyttää — to intercept
- Finnish: katkaista tie — to intercept
- German: abfangen — to intercept
- Finnish: välttää — to avoid the undesirable consequence of
- Finnish: estää — to avoid the undesirable consequence of
- Finnish: torjua — to avoid the undesirable consequence of
- German: vermeiden — to avoid the undesirable consequence of
- German: verhindern — to avoid the undesirable consequence of