avert

/əˈvɜːt/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈvɜːrt/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈvərt/ (ame, mw)

avert — verb

1. to stop a dangerous, harmful, or unwanted event before it actually happens, ofte

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to stop a dangerous, harmful, or unwanted event before it actually happens, often by acting just in time.

例句

Quick action by the pilot averted a serious crash near the runway.

avert + noun (event); subject often performs the saving action

The new safety rules helped avert hundreds of factory accidents last year.

avert + plural noun for repeated prevented events

同義詞
  • prevent

    everyday and neutral; 'avert' is more formal and suggests last-minute rescue

  • avoid

    broader; can mean stay away from something, while 'avert' is specifically about heading off a bad outcome

  • forestall

    very formal; emphasises acting first to block another's plan or a likely event

  • stave off

    informal; often used for hunger, illness, or unwanted events kept back temporarily

反義詞
  • cause

    the opposite action: making the bad event happen

  • trigger

    to start an event or chain reaction, the reverse of averting it

文法句型

avert + noun (disaster, crisis, war, accident)

用法筆記

Object must be something unwanted (disaster, crisis, strike, war, collapse). Subject is usually a person, group, or action that intervenes in time. Frequently appears with adverbs of timing such as 'narrowly', 'just', or 'barely'.

常見錯誤

❌The doctor averted my headache with medicine.
✅The doctor cured my headache with medicine.
💡'avert' is for stopping something BEFORE it happens, not curing something already present.
❌They averted the meeting until Friday.
✅They postponed the meeting until Friday.
💡'avert' means prevent, not delay.

2. to move your eyes, face, or attention so that you are no longer looking at someo

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to move your eyes, face, or attention so that you are no longer looking at someone or something, usually because the sight upsets, embarrasses, or disturbs you.

例句

Vesna averted her eyes when the nurse pulled the bandage off the wound.

avert + possessive + eyes; reaction to an unpleasant sight

Beatriz averted her gaze from the crash scene as the police walked by.

avert + gaze for a more formal, literary tone

同義詞
  • look away

    everyday phrasal verb; 'avert one's eyes' is the formal equivalent

  • turn away

    broader physical movement; 'avert' is usually just the eyes or face

  • divert

    for thoughts or attention; 'avert' for eyes is more visual and reactive

反義詞
  • stare

    to keep looking directly, the opposite of averting one's eyes

  • face

    to look at something directly rather than turn away from it

文法句型

avert + one's eyes / gaze / face

用法筆記

Object is almost always 'eyes', 'gaze', 'face', or sometimes 'thoughts'. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is a small physical or mental movement, not stopping a future event. Common in literary or formal writing rather than everyday speech.

常見錯誤

❌She averted from the photo.
✅She averted her eyes from the photo.
💡'avert' needs an object (eyes / gaze / face); the person cannot 'avert' themselves.
❌He averted his ears from the loud music.
✅He covered his ears against the loud music.
💡'avert' is used for sight and attention, not hearing.