Phrasal verb
head off
Meanings
To leave a place and start going somewhere; to set out.
To prevent something (usually a problem) from happening by acting early.
Definition
To head off means to leave early to go somewhere, often for a specific purpose.
If you head off, you start a journey or leave a place. It often suggests leaving at a particular time, sometimes earlier than expected. It can also mean acting quickly to stop a problem before it happens.
Examples
- I’ll head off after breakfast to catch the first train.
- You should head off now if you want to beat the traffic.
- She headed off to the library to finish her project.
- They headed off the complaint by fixing the issue immediately.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse head off (leave or prevent) with head out (leave) and use it in contexts where “prevent” is not intended.
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.