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

What to read next A really useful skill here — whether looking unaided or through binoculars — is averted vision. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2026

CalSTA’s $20 million commitment will help avert those reductions and additional cuts planned for fiscal year 2027-28. — Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 6 Nov. 2026

The bottom line is that neither the policy discussions in Turkey nor global renewables deployment are happening fast enough to avert perilous amounts of further warming. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026

The annual meetings aim to avert a major regional conflict and strengthen defense cooperation. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 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