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

Origin of avert

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

Related formsa·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 averted

Thus, a strike was averted and we have had a Met season this year--albeit a super weird one.
Inside the Metropolitan Opera’s Insane Year|Shawn E. Milnes|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was ham-handed and poorly done, and it all could have been averted.
Life After ‘SVU’: Christopher Meloni on ‘They Came Together,’ Stabler, and His Famous Behind|Marlow Stern|June 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We also averted potential really catastrophic problems with critical infrastructure.
How Sabu the Hacker Rat Manipulated a Good-Hearted Judge|Michael Daly|May 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Through his cooperation, we averted untold millions of dollars in loss to victims,” Assistant U.S. Attorney James Pastore said.
How Sabu the Hacker Rat Manipulated a Good-Hearted Judge|Michael Daly|May 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

A problem that could have been averted at a relatively small cost wound up causing accidents that killed 13 people.
G.M. Becomes Government Motors Again|Daniel Gross|May 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She safe with averted face, her arm on the fence, her head in her hand.
Atlantic Monthly,Volume 14, No. 82, August, 1864|Various
He stood unnaturally still, with slightly parted lips and averted eyes.
The Rake's Progress|Marjorie Bowen
I think that by the keenness of the living ray which I endured, I should have been dazzled if my eyes had been averted from it.
Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern Volume 11|Various
But her face was averted, and he could see no more than the slightly angular outline of her cheek and chin.
The History of Sir Richard Calmady|Lucas Malet
"If you hadn't gone to war, but had kept right at his elbow, the marriage might have been averted," suggested Searles.
Lady Larkspur|Meredith Nicholson

British Dictionary definitions for averted

avert

/ (əˈvɜːt) /

verb (tr)

to turn away or asideto avert one's gaze

to ward off; prevent from occurringto avert danger

Derived Formsavertible 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

Word Origin and History for averted

avert

c.1400, from Old French avertir (12c.), "turn, direct; avert; make aware," from Vulgar Latin *advertire, from Latin avertere "to turn away, to drive away," from ab- "from, away" (see ab-) + vertere "to turn" (see versus). Related: Averted; averting.

avert

verb (used with object)

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of avert

Examples from the Web for averted

avert

verb (tr)

Word Origin for avert

avert