avert - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
avert Word Meanings
- to prevent something bad from happening
- to turn away or aside
- to avoid something undesirable
avert Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
avert Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/əˈvɜːt/
US
/əˈvɜrt/
avert Word Etymology
Reconstructing from Latin: ab- (away) + vertere (to turn). Historical origin: Latin → Old French → English. Imagine a person turning away from a danger, like a car swerving to avoid a pedestrian.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
Avert is a verb meaning to prevent something bad from happening, or to turn away or aside from something undesirable. It often describes deliberate actions taken to head off trouble, such as procedures, precautions, or quick reflexes that avoid danger. Avert is slightly more formal than avoid, and it implies an active effort to intercept a negative outcome, sometimes with a sense of turning away to preserve safety. You can avert a crisis, avert a collision, or avert disaster by planning, warning others, or acting decisively in the moment. The form is also common in news reports about risk management and public health campaigns.
Usage Reminders
- Use with risks, crises, or disasters
- Not for mere emotional avoidance or casual behavior
- Often paired with proactive actions
- Compare with prevent (broader) and avoid (less formal)
- Watch for formal contexts like newspapers or reports
Common Misconceptions
- It means simply looking away and doing nothing
- It can replace prevent in all contexts
- It is a casual word suitable for everyday speech
- Avert and avoid are interchangeable in every sentence
- You use it only with people, not events
Thinking Differences
Avert emphasizes proactive prevention and often targets risks, crises, or disasters; learners should avoid using it for passive avoidance and should differentiate it from prevent (broader) and avoid (less formal).
Learning Tips
- Compare avert with prevent and avoid in real contexts
- Practice with both personal and public-safety scenarios
- Learn common collocations: avert a crisis, avert disaster
- Notice formal vs. informal usage cues
- Hear it used in journalism and policy texts
- Record your own sentences to check nuance
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'avert'?
A.Approve
B.Accept
C.Avoid
D.Assert
Step 2: Usage
In which sentence is 'avert' used correctly?
A.He embraced the situation.
B.She averted her eyes from the gruesome scene.
C.They confronted the challenge head-on.
D.I encouraged him to face his fears.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is a synonym of 'avert'?
A.Avoid
B.Embrace
C.Accept
D.Confront
Step 4: Opposite Words
In what situation would someone need to avert a potential disaster?
A.When praising a friend
B.When facing a problem directly
C.When seeking approval
D.When preventing a negative outcome
Step 5: Mastery
Can you think of a real-life example where someone might need to avert a crisis?
A.Listening to a friend's story about a close call
B.Reading a news article about a disaster
C.Pause and reflect on a personal experience
D.Imagining a scenario where quick action is needed
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