head off

Other forms: heads off; headed off; heading off

Definitions of head off
  1. verb
    prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
    “head off a confrontation”
    synonyms: avert, avoid, debar, deflect, fend off, forefend, forfend, obviate, stave off, ward off
    see moresee less
    type of:
    forbid, foreclose, forestall, preclude, preempt, prevent
    keep from happening or arising; make impossible
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