head off
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle off
Meanings
Start travelling toward somewhere
Why “off”? Someone or something leaves a starting point. An action or event can also begin.
“We headed off down the trail.”
“After checking the address, Maya and Leo headed off to the club.”
“Maya and Leo headed off to the train station with their weekend bags.”
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 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
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