avert

[ uh-vurt ]

/ əˈvɜrt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR avert ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to turn away or aside: to avert one's eyes.

to ward off; prevent: to avert evil; to avert an accident.

Nearby words

averse, aversion, aversion therapy, aversive, aversive conditioning, avert, avertin, avery, aves, avesta, avestan

Origin of avert

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French avertir ≪ Latin āvertere, equivalent to ā- a-⁴ + vertere to turn

Related forms

a·vert·ed·ly, adverba·vert·er, nouna·vert·i·ble, a·vert·a·ble, adjectiveun·a·vert·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for avert

President Obama said Libya had to be attacked to avert a genocide in Benghazi.
Obama's New War on ISIS May Be Illegal|Eli Lake|September 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sometimes, even before shots are fired, Interrupters can predict and avert crisis, according to Slutkin.
Using Strategies Reserved for Disease Outbreak, Activists Try to “Cure” Urban Violence|Sarah Kunst|April 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And they believe in tougher sanctions precisely because they want to avert war.
The Myth of the American Mullah|James Kirchick|December 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But over the next two months, watch them avoid making tough debt choices to avert another shutdown, says Peter Beinart.
Republicans Don’t Really Care About Reducing America’s Debt|Peter Beinart|October 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST

First, will Ted Cruz and/or Mike Lee let the deal move through the Senate quickly enough to avert default?
The Senate's (Hoped For) Cease-Fire|Michael Tomasky|October 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
To avert sickness from a family, hang up a sickle, or iron implement, at the bed head.
Notes & Queries, No. 19, Saturday, March 9, 1850|Various
It seemed that some great evil threatened his wife and kindred at home—an evil which he had no power to avert.
Legends of Longdendale|Thomas Middleton
All these accidents happened in such rapid succession that it was impossible to do anything to avert them.
Paddy Finn|W. H. G. Kingston
Plunkett, having heard of this, promptly took measures to avert the defection of his good friends on the Run.
The Graysons|Edward Eggleston
He sought to avert his impending fate and humbly implored her forgiveness; but Throigne had not the generosity to save him.
Female Warriors, Vol. II (of 2)|Ellen C. Clayton

British Dictionary definitions for avert

avert

/ (əˈvɜːt) /

verb (tr)

to turn away or asideto avert one's gaze

to ward off; prevent from occurringto avert danger

Derived Forms

avertible or avertable, adjective

Word Origin for avert

C15: from Old French avertir, from Latin āvertere; see averse

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