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

They would have been averted if the two sides reached a trade deal, but Canada's negotiators left Washington empty-handed on Friday evening. — Kevin Breuninger,michael Wayland, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026

Waymos are so much safer than human drivers that deploying them widely could avert countless injuries and deaths every year. — Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2026

The first step in averting this spiral toward catastrophe is for both Beijing and Washington to bear in mind that these economic tools were not designed as weapons. — Gloria Xiong, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

But some experts believe a new strategy emerging from his administration could avert a more consequential defeat. — Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 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