avert
gb/əvˈɚt/ us/əvˈɚt/
B2
English
~ 9500
megelőz, megakadályoz, elfordítja a tekintetét
VERB
B2
FORMAL
1
megelőz
B2
megakadályoz
B2
Usage pattern:
to avert [something bad]
Swift diplomatic action helped avert a full-scale war.
A gyors diplomáciai fellépés segített megelőzni egy teljes körű háborút.
Doctors say early treatment can often avert serious complications.
Az orvosok szerint a korai kezelés gyakran megelőzheti a súlyos szövődményeket.
The government introduced new measures to avert an economic crisis.
Strong safety rules are designed to avert accidents in the workplace.
Better planning might have averted the entire disaster.
Learner examples
The pilot acted fast and averted the crash.
A pilóta gyorsan cselekedett, és megakadályozta a balesetet.
Washing your hands can avert many illnesses.
A kézmosás sok betegséget megelőzhet.
Good planning can avert many problems at work.
The police arrived quickly and averted a fight.
We hope these new rules will avert another accident.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "avert" with "avoid." "Avert" is usually used with bad events that you stop before they happen (avert a crisis, avert disaster). "Avoid" is more general and can be used with people or actions (avoid him, avoid driving at night). Also, learners sometimes say "avert from" (e.g., ✗ "avert from a crisis"); the normal pattern is to avert + [something bad] without "from".
Meaning
Prevent something bad from happening
Collocations
avert disaster
|avert a crisis
|avert war
|avert conflict
|avert tragedy
|avert a strike
Synonyms
prevent (Most common neutral verb; less formal and more general than "avert.")
|
ward off (Slightly more figurative or dramatic; often used with threats or dangers.)
Antonyms
cause (Means to make something happen; the opposite of stopping it from happening.)
|
allow (Means to let something happen instead of stopping it.)
Themes
safety
|risk
|politics
|business
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To stop something bad or dangerous before it happens.
To stop something harmful, dangerous, or unwanted from happening or developing.
B2
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
to avert [one's] eyes/gaze/face (from [something])
He quickly averted his eyes as the video showed graphic images.
Gyorsan elfordította a tekintetét, amikor a videó megrázó képeket mutatott.
She averted her gaze, not wanting to witness the argument.
Elfordította a tekintetét, mert nem akarta végignézni a veszekedést.
I instinctively averted my eyes from the bright flash.
Embarrassed, he averted his face and said nothing.
Many people in the room averted their eyes when she started to cry.
Learner examples
She averted her eyes when the scene became violent.
Elfordította a tekintetét, amikor a jelenet erőszakossá vált.
He averted his gaze because he felt shy.
Elfordította a tekintetét, mert zavarban volt.
I averted my eyes from the car crash.
They averted their eyes out of respect.
He averted his face so she could not see him cry.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to use "avert" alone to mean "avoid looking" (e.g., ✗ "He averted"), but it almost always needs an object like "his eyes" or "his gaze" (✓ "He averted his eyes"). Many also overuse it in casual speech where "look away" is more natural.
Meaning
Turn your eyes or face away
Collocations
avert his eyes
|avert her gaze
|avert my eyes
|quickly averted his eyes
|averted her face
Synonyms
look away (More common and neutral; less formal than "avert one's eyes.")
|
turn away (Focuses on the movement of the head or body; slightly broader than "avert.")
Antonyms
stare (Means to look directly and for a long time, the opposite of turning your eyes away.)
|
fix your gaze (Means to look at something steadily instead of turning your eyes away from it.)
Themes
body
|emotions
|social
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To move your eyes or face so you are not looking at something.
To turn your eyes or face away from something, especially because it is unpleasant, embarrassing, or you do not want to see it.
Grammar
Dictionary form
avert
IPA
GB/əvˈɚt/
US/əvˈɚt/
Syllables & stress
avert (1 syllable)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: avert
- 3rd Person Singular: averts
- Present Participle: averting
- Past: averted
Word family
Expressions
avert a crisis
1/əvˈɚt ə kɹˈaɪsəs/
fixed phrase
formal
Prevent a serious crisis
To stop a serious problem situation before it happens.
Examples
- The deal with the unions helped avert a crisis at the company.
- Strong leadership is needed to avert a political crisis.
avert conflict
1/əvˈɚt kˈɑnflɪkt/
fixed phrase
formal
Prevent serious conflict
To stop serious fighting or strong disagreement before it starts.
Examples
- Mediation may help avert conflict between the two groups.
- Early talks could avert conflict over the new law.
avert disaster
1/əvˈɚt dɪzˈæstɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
Prevent a very bad event
To stop a very bad and serious event from happening.
Examples
- Quick thinking by the captain helped avert disaster at sea.
- Better maintenance could have averted disaster at the power plant.
avert his gaze
1/əvˈɚt hˈɪz ɡˈeɪz/
fixed phrase
formal
Turn his gaze away
For a man or boy to move his eyes away so he is not looking at something.
Examples
- He averted his gaze when she looked at him.
- The witness averted his gaze, clearly uncomfortable with the question.
avert one's eyes
1/əvˈɚt wˈʌnz ˈaɪz/
fixed phrase
formal
Turn your eyes away
To move your eyes away so you do not look at something.
Examples
- He averted his eyes as they carried out the injured man.
- Many viewers averted their eyes during the most violent scenes.
avert tragedy
1/əvˈɚt tɹˈæd͡ʒədi/
fixed phrase
formal
Prevent a very sad event
To stop a very sad or deadly event from happening.
Examples
- Firefighters arrived in time to avert tragedy.
- Only quick action by the teachers averted tragedy at the school.
avert war
1/əvˈɚt wˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
formal
Prevent war from starting
To stop a war from beginning.
Examples
- Diplomats are working hard to avert war in the region.
- They signed the agreement in a last attempt to avert war.
avert your eyes
1/əvˈɚt jˈʊɹ ˈaɪz/
fixed phrase
Turn your eyes away (command)
To move your eyes away from something when someone tells you not to look.
Examples
- Parents told their children to avert their eyes from the screen.
- If you are sensitive to blood, you may want to avert your eyes now.