head off
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle off
Meanings
Start travelling toward somewhere
Why “off”? The whole object launches away from where it stood.
“We headed off down the trail.”
“They headed off toward the station.”
Don't confuse with
Head off means start travelling toward somewhere. Head on means continue moving toward a destination.
Test yourself
“We headed off down the trail.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
head on
A contrast learners often mix up
Continue moving toward a destination
blast off
Same off pattern: departure
Launch into the sky with great force
clear off
Same off pattern: departure
Leave a place quickly, often when told to; Remove items from a surface; Pay off a debt completely
dash off
Same off pattern: departure
Leave in a great hurry
drive off
Same off pattern: departure
Leave by car; Force back by attacking
drop off
Same off pattern: departure
Take and leave someone or something at a location; Fall asleep, often unintentionally; Decrease in number, level or amount; Detach and fall away from something
fire off
Same off pattern: departure
Send a message quickly and forcefully
get off
Same off pattern: departure
Leave a bus, train or plane; Finish work for the day; Escape punishment
Practice “head off” in Sink In
Drill this and 600+ phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by particle.