avert

[ uh-vurt ]

/ əˈvɜrt /

SEE 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.

Words nearby avert

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

OTHER WORDS FROM avert

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. 2020

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 of avert

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

avert

verb (used with object)

Words related to avert

Words nearby avert

Origin of avert

OTHER WORDS FROM avert

Examples from the Web for avert

British Dictionary definitions for avert

verb (tr)

Derived forms of avert

Word Origin for avert