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
John Gregory Dunne2
: to see coming and ward off : avoid
avert disaster
Synonyms
- forestall
- head off
- help
- obviate
- preclude
- prevent
- stave off
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Both characters seem to avert their eyes from this moment. Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 26 July 2022 Returning to the Red Flag Traffic Laws, the emphasis of using a red flag was to avert having a calamity to start with. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 29 June 2022 As the Russian military builds its presence near Ukraine, Western nations are seeking to avert a worsening of the situation. New York Times, 15 Feb. 2022 That misses by a wide margin the target of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees that scientists say is necessary to avert the worst consequences of warming. Somini Sengupta, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Nov. 2021 Efforts are underway to avert the scenario seen with vaccines and widen access to the treatment, a potential boon to poorer countries because of its low production cost and ease of use. James Paton, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2021 The big jump roughly matches what most climate scientists say is necessary to avert the worst damage from climate change. Harold Maass, The Week, 9 Sep. 2021 The new attacks came hours after Moscow and Kyiv signed deals with the United Nations and Turkey that were intended to avert a global food crisis. Susie Blann, ajc, 23 July 2022 Italian President Sergio Mattarella rejected Mario Draghi’s offer to resign as prime minister on Thursday in a bid to avert a political crisis that would unsettle financial markets and potentially lead to elections in the fall. Chiara Albanese, Bloomberg.com, 14 July 2022 See More
Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 26 July 2022 Returning to the Red Flag Traffic Laws, the emphasis of using a red flag was to avert having a calamity to start with. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 29 June 2022 As the Russian military builds its presence near Ukraine, Western nations are seeking to avert a worsening of the situation. New York Times, 15 Feb. 2022 That misses by a wide margin the target of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees that scientists say is necessary to avert the worst consequences of warming. Somini Sengupta, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Nov. 2021 Efforts are underway to avert the scenario seen with vaccines and widen access to the treatment, a potential boon to poorer countries because of its low production cost and ease of use. James Paton, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2021 The big jump roughly matches what most climate scientists say is necessary to avert the worst damage from climate change. Harold Maass, The Week, 9 Sep. 2021 The new attacks came hours after Moscow and Kyiv signed deals with the United Nations and Turkey that were intended to avert a global food crisis. Susie Blann, ajc, 23 July 2022 Italian President Sergio Mattarella rejected Mario Draghi’s offer to resign as prime minister on Thursday in a bid to avert a political crisis that would unsettle financial markets and potentially lead to elections in the fall. Chiara Albanese, Bloomberg.com, 14 July 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
avert
verb
ə-ˈvərt
averted; averting
1
: to turn away
When asked if he had lied, he averted his eyes.
2
: to keep from happening
avert disaster
avert
verb
as in to prevent
to keep from happening by taking action in advance her careful planning averted disaster Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- prevent
- forestall
- avoid
- preclude
- obviate
- help
- provide
- head off
- escape
- anticipate
- thwart
- stave off
- nullify
- deter
- evade
- neutralize
- save
- hinder
- impede
- deflect
- shun
- prohibit
- counteract
- shake
- forbid
- frustrate
- elude
- negate
- hamper
- eschew
- checkmate
- foil
- retard
- balk
- offset
- stop
- halt
- circumvent
- inhibit
- baffle
- stall
- block
- counterbalance
- stop
- dodge
- shirk
- arrest
- check
- interfere (with)
- fend (off)
- bar
- ward (off)
- duck
- make up (for)
- compensate (for)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- assist
- aid
- facilitate
- promote
- abet
- encourage
- ease
- forward
- allow
- advance
- let
- further
- cultivate
- permit
- foster
- smooth
- unclog
- leave
- nurture