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

Without ensuring that aid workers have safe access to affected populations, no amount of funding can avert hunger. —Arif Husain, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2025

President Masoud Pezeshkian recently warned that Tehran could soon face further water rationing if rainfall does not increase, cautioning that even these measures might not be enough to avert a crisis. —Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025

The Corps project averts potential catastrophic flooding that could lay siege to about 475,000 residents, California and the nation, according to the government’s court documents. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025

To be sure, Christians should pray and work for peace, rejoice when tragedy is averted and cheer when the Gospel is shared. —Abby McCloskey, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025

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