avert Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
    stave off; debar; avoid; deflect; obviate; head off; forefend; fend off; ward off; forfend.
    • Let's avoid a confrontation
    • head off a confrontation
    • avert a strike
  2. verb turn away or aside
    turn away.
    • They averted their eyes when the King entered

WordNet

A*vert" transitive verb
Etymology
L. avertere; a, ab + vertere to turn: cf. OF. avertir. See Verse, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Averted; present participle & verbal noun Averting
Definitions
  1. To turn aside, or away; as, to avert the eyes from an object; to ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of; as, how can the danger be averted? "To avert his ire." Milton.
    When atheists and profane persons do hear of so many discordant and contrary opinions in religion, it doth avert them from the church. Bacon.
    Till ardent prayer averts the public woe. Prior.
A*vert" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To turn away. Archaic
    Cold and averting from our neighbor's good. Thomson.

Webster 1913