avert
Translation
to prevent, to avoid, to turn away
Examples
He averted his eyes from the terrible scene.
He averted his eyes from the terrible scene.
The government is trying to avert a crisis.
The government is trying to avert a crisis.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to prevent (sth.) bad from happening The government is trying to avert a crisis.
((one's eyes/gaze)) ((from sth.)) to turn (one's eyes/gaze) away from (sth.) He averted his eyes from the terrible scene.
Similar Words
Synonyms: prevent, avoid, forestall; turn away
Etymology
From Latin 'avertere', meaning 'to turn away', from 'a-' (away) + 'vertere' (to turn).
Memory Tips
Remember the common phrase 'to avert your eyes'. To avert a disaster is to 'turn it away' before it happens.