avert
gb/əvˈɚt/ us/əvˈɚt/
B2
English
~ 9500
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
B2
action
1
Prevent something bad from happening
To stop something bad or dangerous before it happens.
Usage pattern:
to avert [something bad]
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".
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.)
Collocations
avert disaster
|avert a crisis
|avert war
|avert conflict
|avert tragedy
|avert a strike
Themes
safety
|risk
|politics
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Swift diplomatic action helped avert a full-scale war.
- Doctors say early treatment can often avert serious complications.
- 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.
- Washing your hands can avert many illnesses.
- 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.
unknown
formal
B2
action
2
Turn your eyes or face away
To move your eyes or face so you are not looking at something.
Usage pattern:
to avert [one's] eyes/gaze/face (from [something])
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.
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.)
Collocations
avert his eyes
|avert her gaze
|avert my eyes
|quickly averted his eyes
|averted her face
Themes
body
|emotions
|social
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He quickly averted his eyes as the video showed graphic images.
- She averted her gaze, not wanting to witness the argument.
- 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.
- He averted his gaze because he felt shy.
- 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.
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.