Avert is a verb with two close but distinctclearly different from each other; not the same meanings. Most often, it means to preventstop something from happening before it starts something bad from happening. It can also mean to turn something away, especiallymore than usual; particularly in this situation your eyes or face.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /əˈvɝt/
Easy pronunciation: uh-VERT (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable.
This uses the verb sense meaning to prevent something from happening.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Avert Meaning
to stop something from happening
Part of speech: verb
Definition: prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
Example: The new safety rules helped avert a serious accident.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- avoid — Works well in the sense of preventing something, though it can also mean 'not do' something.
- deflect — Can fit when something is being stopped or redirected, but it is less direct than avert.
- fend off — A strong substitute when talking about preventing a threat or danger.
- forefend — A rarer, more formal equivalent of 'ward off' or 'prevent'.
- forfend — An uncommon formal synonym meaning to prevent or protect against.
- head off — A natural substitute when something is prevented before it happens.
- obviate — Formal word meaning to make something unnecessary or prevent it from happening.
- stave off — Common in the sense of delaying or preventing something bad.
- ward off — A very natural synonym for preventing danger or harm.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Avert
Meaning 2
to turn your eyes or face away
Part of speech: verb
Definition: turn away or aside
Example: She averted her eyes during the sad scene.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- turn away — Direct match for the physical sense of turning away.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Avert Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- avoid
- fend off
- head off
- stave off
- ward off
turn away or aside
- turn away
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse avert meaning 'prevent' with avert meaning 'turn away'.
- Avert is often used with an object: 'avert a crisis,' 'avert disaster,' 'avert your eyes'.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does avert mean?
Avert usually means to prevent something from happening. It can also mean to turn away, especially your eyes or face.
What is a good synonym for avert?
For the prevention sense, good synonyms include ward off, stave off, head off, and fend off. For the physical sense, turn away is the best match.
How is avert used in a sentence?
You might say, 'The quick response helped avert a disaster' or 'She averted her eyes.'
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.