[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/avert/)

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# avert

verb (avert, averts, averted, averting)

«avert» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To avert something bad means to stop it from happening, as in «avert a disaster». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/avert/#m1)
2. To avert your eyes means to look away, often because something is upsetting or embarrassing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/avert/#m2)

### In the lessons

In stories and news: a quick action averts a crash or a war; in stories, a character averts their gaze when shy, sad or ashamed; it is a slightly formal word; phrases: avert disaster, avert your eyes, avert a crisis.

### Examples

- The driver braked hard and averted a crash. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/avert/#x1)
- Quick thinking averted disaster. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/avert/#x2)
- She averted her eyes from the scary scene. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/avert/#x3)
- Talks between the leaders averted a war. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/avert/#x4)
- He averted his gaze when the teacher looked at him. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/avert/#x5)
- Hence fishermen dreaded his approach, and endeavoured, by prayer and fasting, to avert the misfortunes which he prophesied. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/avert/#x6)

### Note

Past: averted. Do not confuse with «avoid» (keep away from) or «divert» (send another way); «avert» means prevent or turn away. Trap: «avert» vs «advert» (an advertisement).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «avert» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/avert/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«avert» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/avert.html) on Mova free.