avast

American

[uh-vast, uh-vahst] / əˈvæst, əˈvɑst /

verb

Nautical.

(used as a command to stop or cease).

Avast heaving!

avast British

/ əˈvɑːst /

nautical stop! cease!

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of avast

1675–85; perhaps < Dutch houd vast hold fast ( see hold ¹, fast ¹)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Gen Digital, 6.8 times earnings, is a mash-up of Avast and NortonLifeLock, players in home cybersecurity.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

In January 2020, PCMag reported that Avast Antivirus was surreptitiously collecting user data for Avast subsidiary Jumpshot, which repackaged and sold the data.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

Avast VPN posted the highest speeds overall, while Surfshark and ExpressVPN maintained stronger performance across international servers.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

Whether physical or virtual, Avast provides a limited number of streaming-optimized servers, marked with a “monitor” icon in the server list.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

Avast there, master Terry! not half the way, though I've waded part of it.

From The Boy Slaves by Reid, Mayne

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023