head for

British  

verb

1. to go or cause to go (towards)

2. to be destined for

   to head for trouble

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head for Idioms  

1. Proceed or go in a certain direction, as in I'm heading for town, or I believe Karen and Jane are heading for a big quarrel. This expression, which uses head in the sense of “advance toward,” is occasionally amplified with a figurative destination, especially in the American West. For example, head for the hills means “to run away to high and safer ground” or “to flee from danger.” It is often used facetiously, as in Here comes that old bore—head for the hills! Head for the setting sun alludes to where a wanted man or outlaw went when a law-enforcement agent was close behind him, that is, farther west, and head for the last roundup means “to die.” [Early 1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

head for

The way Spain sees it, the crisis has been contained and Ceuta is not in the Schengen zone so Moroccan migrants were never going to head for mainland Europe, unchecked.

From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026

Phillipson and Powell went head to head for the deputy leader position last year, after a race triggered by Angela Rayner's resignation, with Powell emerging victorious following 54% support from the party membership, external.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

‘My Government Means to Kill Me,’ a hard-edged, cameo-filled novel of AIDS-riddled 1980s New York, has been ‘bubblng’ in Newson’s head for years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026

As most mountaineers attempt the ascent with the help of at least one Nepali guide, about a thousand climbers are expected to head for the summit in the next few days.

From Barron's ● May 17, 2026

“Let’s head for the middle of the pack,” Katherine whispered.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Related Words

• advance
• blow
• carry
• change
• climb
• cross
• drift
• drive
• flow
• fly
• go
• jump
• leave
• migrate
• proceed
• progress
• propel
• push
• relocate
• remove