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

Crisis averted, high-fives in the dugout for Hill. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026

Three Mile Island meltdown averted by technology developed at Jamestown. —Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2026

On Friday afternoon, the workers’ union, Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, and the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations, which represents NYC apartment-building owners, reached an agreement that would avert a strike before the April 20 deadline. —Anne Kadet, Curbed, 17 Apr. 2026

Baltimore averted a shutout when Gunnar Henderson’s sacrifice fly against closer Cade Smith drove in Taveras. —ABC News, 16 Apr. 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