2 head
Function:
verbInflected forms:
heads; head·ed; head·ingMeaning:
1 [+ obj] a : to be the leader of (something) ▪ She heads the committee. ▪ The group was headed by the church pastor. ▪ He was accused of heading the revolt. —often + up ▪ The research committee was headed up by several leading scientists. b : to be first on (a list) ▪ He heads [=tops] the list of candidates for the job.
2 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] : to go in a specified direction or toward a specified place ▪ She turned around and headed (for) home. ▪ I hopped in the car and headed down the street. ▪ After lunch, we headed back to the office. ▪ She headed out early this morning. ▪ The birds have already started heading south for the winter. ◊To be heading or headed somewhere is to be going or directed somewhere. ▪ Where are you heading? = Where are you headed? [=where are you going?] ▪ The ship was heading/headed out to sea. —often + for ▪ We were on a plane headed for Hawaii. —often used figuratively ▪ The economy may be heading into a recession. ▪ If you keep acting like this, you'll be heading/headed for trouble!
3 [+ obj] soccer : to hit (the ball) with your head ▪ The forward headed the ball into the goal.
2 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] : to go in a specified direction or toward a specified place ▪ She turned around and headed (for) home. ▪ I hopped in the car and headed down the street. ▪ After lunch, we headed back to the office. ▪ She headed out early this morning. ▪ The birds have already started heading south for the winter. ◊To be heading or headed somewhere is to be going or directed somewhere. ▪ Where are you heading? = Where are you headed? [=where are you going?] ▪ The ship was heading/headed out to sea. —often + for ▪ We were on a plane headed for Hawaii. —often used figuratively ▪ The economy may be heading into a recession. ▪ If you keep acting like this, you'll be heading/headed for trouble!
3 [+ obj] soccer : to hit (the ball) with your head ▪ The forward headed the ball into the goal.
head off [phrasal verb]
1 : to go to another place ▪ I'll see you later—I'm heading off. ▪ He headed off to work.
2 head (someone) off or head off (someone) : to stop (someone) from moving forward ▪ We can head them off at the pass.
3 head (something) off or head off (something) : to prevent (something) from happening ▪ They tried to head off the crisis by raising interest rates.
2 head (someone) off or head off (someone) : to stop (someone) from moving forward ▪ We can head them off at the pass.
3 head (something) off or head off (something) : to prevent (something) from happening ▪ They tried to head off the crisis by raising interest rates.