averted; averting; averts
1
: to turn away or aside (the eyes, one's gaze, etc.) in avoidance
I found the sight so grotesque that I had to avert my eyes …—
John Gregory Dunne
John Gregory Dunne2
: to see coming and ward off : avoid
avert disaster
Synonyms
Examples of avert in a Sentence
He sped up and averted an accident.
The diplomatic talks narrowly averted a war.
an attempt to avert a strike at the plant
Recent Examples on the Web
High-stakes negotiations will take place Thursday as the United States hopes for a breakthrough that would not just end the war between Israel and Hamas and secure the release of hostages but avert a wider conflict across the Middle East.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC News, 15 Aug. 2024
His kindness and calmness in this extreme emergency probably averted a much different outcome.
—Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2024
PnB Rock’s mother averted her eyes and wiped tears Monday as a prosecutor displayed an autopsy photo of her son during closing arguments in the trial of two men charged in connection with the rapper’s 2022 murder.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2024
In theory, interest rate cuts would ease borrowing fees, unleash consumer demand and business investment and help the economy avert a downturn.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for avert 
Freddie Clayton, NBC News, 15 Aug. 2024
His kindness and calmness in this extreme emergency probably averted a much different outcome.
—Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2024
PnB Rock’s mother averted her eyes and wiped tears Monday as a prosecutor displayed an autopsy photo of her son during closing arguments in the trial of two men charged in connection with the rapper’s 2022 murder.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2024
In theory, interest rate cuts would ease borrowing fees, unleash consumer demand and business investment and help the economy avert a downturn.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for avert
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'avert.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Avert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avert. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
avert
verb1
: to turn away
avert one's eyes
2
: to keep from happening
averted an accident
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