ward off

phrasal verb

warded off; warding off; wards off

: to avoid being hit by (something)

ward off a blow

—often used figuratively

I tried different remedies to ward off a cold.

Examples of ward off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The idea is that if the trees that produced the acorns were successful enough at warding off flood damage to drop seeds, those seeds might be similarly resilient if replanted. —

Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024 We’ve all been told stretching is a great way to keep your body loose and limber and ward off any potential achy tightness. —

Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 29 Oct. 2024 Other ways to combat heartburn and ward off aggravation caused by acid include medications, lifestyle changes, and reducing consumption of acidic fruits. —

Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2024 Marcello Hernández played a bottle of shampoo, kept behind lock and key to ward off shoplifters, and Bowen Yang played a creepy bus driver who makes toilet gin in the bus restroom. —

Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 2 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ward off