avert

UK: /əˈvɜː^rt/ US: /əˈvɝt/ ,(ə vûrt′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

a•vert /əˈvɜrt/   v. [~ + object]

1. to turn away or aside:
   to avert one's eyes.
2. to ward off;
   prevent from happening;
   avoid:
   to avert an accident.

See -vert-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

a•vert  (ə vûrt′), v.t. 

1. to turn away or aside:
   to avert one's eyes.
2. to ward off;
   prevent:
   to avert evil; to avert an accident.

• Middle French avertir Latin āvertere, equivalent. to ā- a-⁴ + vertere to turn
• late Middle English 1400–50

a•vert′ed•ly, adv. 
a•vert′er, n. 
a•vert′i•ble, a•vert′a•ble, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

avert / əˈvɜːt/ verb (transitive)

1. to turn away or aside: to avert one's gaze
2. to ward off; prevent from occurring: to avert danger

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French avertir, from Latin āvertere; see averse

aˈvertible, aˈvertable adjective