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 of avert

• prevent

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

Dallas Mavericks fans will want to avert their eyes for this last factoid. —Megan Armstrong, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026

The school district, just west of Charlotte across the Catawba River, averted 100 layoffs last week and potentially 300 more by the end of the school year with an emergency $10 million from Gaston County commissioners. —Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026

The new deal averted a potential strike at various DHL facilities. —Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2026

This timeframe provided the stability and predictability needed for long-term planning and averted the recurring debates about keeping the mayor in charge of the city’s schools. —Dennis Walcott, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026

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