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

But local officials are effusive in their praise, saying a delay will avert potential chaos. —CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026

Scientists have played a critical role alongside diplomats in averting a civilization-disrupting nuclear weapons disaster for the past 75 years. —J. Xavier Prochaska, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026

Anyone who suffers from vertigo or any kind of fear of heights should be well-advised to watch with caution, and personally there were times the film made me, a minor acrophobic, feel the need to avert my eyes and search my purse for some Rescue Remedy. —Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026

Deutsche Bank said there's reason to believe Uber can't avert Waymo and Tesla taking market share, but Uber can dominate in the space, too. —Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 17 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