YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

avert

Verb

IPA /əˈvɜːt/

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UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

To prevent something bad from happening.

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Pronunciation

avert/əˈvɜːt/

PICTURE THE IDEA

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Follow the idea

Water is about to overflow
The tap is turned off
The flood is prevented

To avert a flood is to stop it before it happens.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

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Turning off the overflowing tap averted a small flood.
An early review helped the team avert a costly mistake.

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Quick word quiz

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An early review helped the team ________ a costly mistake.

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avert — To prevent something bad from happening.

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Write one sentence using “avert” about your own life.

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Does your sentence match this meaning?

To prevent something bad from happening.

Compare: Turning off the overflowing tap averted a small flood.

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Word origin

From Latin avertere, meaning to turn away.

Did you know?

Avert often combines with disaster, crisis, danger and tragedy.

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