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
The possibility of strike by Teamsters Local #320, representing the staff in the Shakopee Public Works Department, has been averted as a tentative agreement was reached during the mediation period.
—Julia Fomby, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Companies also ordered more inventory to get ahead of potential crippling US port strikes, which ultimately were averted earlier this year.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 7 Feb. 2025
Driving the news: On Monday, the U.S. and Mexico agreed to a month-long pause on implementing tariffs, which temporarily averts a 25% levy with huge economic implications for both countries.
—Linh Ta, Axios, 5 Feb. 2025
More-efficient technologies would reduce coal consumption, and then maybe the coal-less doomsday could be averted for a long time.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 4 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for avert 
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Julia Fomby, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Companies also ordered more inventory to get ahead of potential crippling US port strikes, which ultimately were averted earlier this year.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 7 Feb. 2025
Driving the news: On Monday, the U.S. and Mexico agreed to a month-long pause on implementing tariffs, which temporarily averts a 25% levy with huge economic implications for both countries.
—Linh Ta, Axios, 5 Feb. 2025
More-efficient technologies would reduce coal consumption, and then maybe the coal-less doomsday could be averted for a long time.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 4 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for avert
Dictionary Entries Near avert
Cite this Entry
“Avert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avert. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
avert
verb1
: to turn away
avert one's eyes
2
: to keep from happening
averted an accident
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