Headed means moving or traveling toward a particular destination or direction. When your family is headed to the beach, you're on your way there. When a ship is headed north, it's traveling in that direction. A student headed home after school is making their way back from the classroom.

The word can also describe being in charge of or leading something. A committee headed by the principal means the principal is running it. A company headed by an experienced CEO has that person making the major decisions. When someone heads a project, they're responsible for organizing it and making sure it succeeds.

You'll often see headed in phrases that suggest where things are going: “We're headed for trouble” means problems are coming, while “She's headed for success” suggests someone is on track to achieve their goals. The word captures both physical movement and the direction of events or situations as they unfold.