Meaning & use

avert

verb·Academic

To prevent something bad or dangerous from happening, or to turn one's eyes away.

See it in a sentence

Quick action by the pilot helped avert a serious accident.

She averted her eyes from the graphic scene on the news.

A note on using this word

Avert usually applies to preventing a disaster or danger, though it can also literally mean turning one's gaze away from something.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

causeinvite

Make it your own

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