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

That gave Michigan one more shot, and Underwood made this one count, connecting with JJ Buchanan for a game-winning 47-yard touchdown to avert disaster in Kyle Whittingham’s debut as Wolverines coach. — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

But at the last moment, the defense attorney sprung up from his chair to argue a Hail Mary in a final effort to avert a mistrial, prompting a court officer to hold out his hand to signal the jurors should not yet enter the courtroom. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026

After a mistrial was initially averted earlier Thursday and the panel went back for more deliberations, Reddington came very close to losing his composure at Judge Sullivan. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026

The House voted to pass a short-term funding bill and avert a government shutdown at the end of September. — Josh Feldman, NBC news, 2 Sep. 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