averted; averting; averts
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
John Gregory Dunne2
: to see coming and ward off : avoid
avert disaster
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
Baltimore averted a shutout when Gunnar Henderson’s sacrifice fly against closer Cade Smith drove in Taveras.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
The tentative agreement, which includes a 24% increase over three years, was the final milestone needed to avert a walkout, after the union representing teachers and another representing administrators struck deals on Sunday.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Both lawmakers submitted formal resignation letters that were read on the House floor, averting potential expulsion actions by colleagues.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
The Los Angeles Unified School District and Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 99, which represents roughly 30,000 school support workers, reached an agreement in principle early Tuesday, averting a strike just hours before schools were set to open.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for avert
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ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
The tentative agreement, which includes a 24% increase over three years, was the final milestone needed to avert a walkout, after the union representing teachers and another representing administrators struck deals on Sunday.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Both lawmakers submitted formal resignation letters that were read on the House floor, averting potential expulsion actions by colleagues.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
The Los Angeles Unified School District and Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 99, which represents roughly 30,000 school support workers, reached an agreement in principle early Tuesday, averting a strike just hours before schools were set to open.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for avert
Cite this Entry
“Avert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avert. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
avert
verb1
: to turn away
avert one's eyes
2
: to keep from happening
averted an accident
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