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
Williams begins by claiming that there was a brief golden period when Americans might have joined together to avert the disaster of identity politics.
—Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025
To focus on banks allegedly turning away business for political reasons, or closing accounts similarly for reasons of politics, is for pundits, politicians and even presidents to avert their gaze from the real problem: regulators.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
The article—ghostwritten by McGeorge Bundy, a future national-security adviser—claimed that dropping nuclear bombs on Japan had averted further war, saving more than a million American lives.
—Jane Mayer, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2025
Read more: Journalists In Gaza Are Documenting Their Own Starvation
A generation at risk
Experts caution, however, that even if aid arrives in time to avert mass death from starvation, an entire generation will be permanently affected as a result of being deprived of enough food.
—Juwayriah Wright, Time, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for avert
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Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025
To focus on banks allegedly turning away business for political reasons, or closing accounts similarly for reasons of politics, is for pundits, politicians and even presidents to avert their gaze from the real problem: regulators.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
The article—ghostwritten by McGeorge Bundy, a future national-security adviser—claimed that dropping nuclear bombs on Japan had averted further war, saving more than a million American lives.
—Jane Mayer, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2025
Read more: Journalists In Gaza Are Documenting Their Own Starvation
A generation at risk
Experts caution, however, that even if aid arrives in time to avert mass death from starvation, an entire generation will be permanently affected as a result of being deprived of enough food.
—Juwayriah Wright, Time, 30 July 2025
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 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
avert
verb1
: to turn away
avert one's eyes
2
: to keep from happening
averted an accident
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