avert

verb

ə-ˈvərt 

averted; averting; averts

transitive verb

1

: to turn away or aside (the eyes, one's gaze, etc.) in avoidance

I found the sight so grotesque that I had to avert my eyes …

—John Gregory Dunne

2

: to see coming and ward off : avoid

avert disaster

Synonyms

• forestall
• head off
• help
• obviate
• preclude
• prevent
• stave off

Examples of avert in a Sentence

He sped up and averted an accident.

The diplomatic talks narrowly averted a war.

an attempt to avert a strike at the plant

Recent Examples on the Web

However, a multimillion-dollar ballot battle was averted in 2023 with compromise legislation. —Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2025

Listen to this article State lawmakers will again juggle a pair of competing bills aimed at boosting protections for homebuyers or spurring more condo construction — while trying to avert the impasses that killed the parallel efforts last year. —Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 20 Feb. 2025

This initiative helped avert potential global famines and boosted incomes for poor farmers, particularly in Asia. —A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 17 Feb. 2025

The temporary suspension averts an immediate trade confrontation between the U.S. and Canada, which exchanged $746 billion in goods in 2022. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 16 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French avertir, from Latin avertere, from ab- + vertere to turn — more at worth

First Known Use

circa 1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing avert

• avert one's eyes

Rhymes for avert

• alert
• assert
• dessert
• divert
• evert
• exert
• inert
• insert
• invert
• nightshirt
• overt
• revert

Kids Definition

avert

verb

ə-ˈvərt 

1

: to turn away

avert one's eyes

2

: to keep from happening

averted an accident