First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
avert
verb \ə-ˈvərt\
: to turn (your eyes, gaze, etc.) away or aside
: to prevent (something bad) from happening
Full Definition of AVERT
transitive verb
1
: to turn away or aside (as the eyes) in avoidance
2
: to see coming and ward off : avoid <avert disaster>
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Origin of AVERT
Middle English, from Middle French avertir, from Latin avertere, from ab- + vertere to turn — more at worth
Rhymes with AVERT
advert, alert, assert, bellwort, birthwort, Blackshirt, brownshirt, bush shirt, camp shirt, colewort, concert, convert, covert, desert, dessert, dissert, divert, dress shirt, evert, exert, expert, exsert, figwort, fleawort, glasswort, hair shirt, Hastert, hornwort, inert, insert, invert, lousewort, lungwort, madwort, milkwort, mugwort, nightshirt, outskirt, overt, pay dirt, pervert, pilewort, ragwort, redshirt, revert, ribwort, saltwort, sandwort, Schubert, seagirt, sea squirt, soapwort, spearwort, spleenwort, stitchwort, stonewort, stuffed shirt, subvert, sweatshirt, toothwort, T-shirt, ungirt
AVERTING Defined for Kids
avert
verb \ə-ˈvərt\
avert·edavert·ing
Definition of AVERT for Kids
1
: to turn away <When asked if he had lied, he averted his eyes.>
2
: to keep from happening <avert disaster>
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