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

On the cover is a black and white photo of a man, a woman’s arms wrapped around his neck, her face out of focus and half out of frame, his eyes averted, his face handsome and pensive, her face unimportant. —Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026

Some area hospitals reached a deal with NYSNA to avert a strike, including Northwell Health on Long Island. —Mark Prussin, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026

Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike. —Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026

Several other private hospitals in and near New York City reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike. —David R. Martin, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 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