1 B1 informal
To leave a place and travel somewhere.
"It's getting late — I think I'll head off home before the traffic gets too bad."
inseparable
head off
B1 informal separable transitive/intransitive
To leave and go somewhere; or to intercept and stop something or someone before it happens.
In plain English
To leave and go to a place, or to stop something bad before it can happen.
What does "head off" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To intercept or divert someone or something before it reaches a destination or causes a problem.
"Security managed to head the protesters off before they reached the main entrance."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
To prevent a problem, crisis, or confrontation before it occurs.
"The manager called a team meeting to head off any arguments about the new schedule."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To direct (move) your head and body away from a place.
Actually means
To leave and go to a place, or to stop something bad before it can happen.
Usage tip
Two distinct senses. The 'depart' sense is very common in everyday speech. The 'intercept/prevent' sense is also widely used, particularly in journalism and discussions about avoiding problems or confrontations. In the 'prevent' sense, it is separable ('head trouble off at the pass').
Words that pair with "head off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
trouble crisis disaster problems home now
How to conjugate "head off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
head off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
heads off
he/she/it
Past simple
headed off
yesterday
Past participle
headed off
have + pp
-ing form
heading off
continuous
Hear "head off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "head off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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