adjective

averted

uh-VUR-tihd

Averted (adjective) means Turned away, especially to avoid looking at something or showing an emotion. Example: “He gave his apology with eyes averted, too embarrassed to look at her.”

adjective

Turned away, especially to avoid looking at something or showing an emotion.

"He gave his apology with eyes averted, too embarrassed to look at her."

Successfully prevented from happening.

"Thanks to the ceasefire, a wider war was narrowly averted."

How to use averted

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither "looked away" or "successfully prevented," depending on context.

Word forms

more averted comparative, most averted superlative

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He gave his apology with eyes _____, too embarrassed to look at her.

Rhymes for averted

alerted inserted deserted asserted diverted inverted reverted perverted converted concerted introverted

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Frequently asked questions

What does “averted” mean?

The word “averted” means turned away, especially to avoid looking at something or showing an emotion. In plain terms, either "looked away" or "successfully prevented," depending on context.

How do you pronounce “averted”?

“Averted” is pronounced uh-VUR-tihd (/əˈvɝtɪd/ in IPA).

How do you use “averted” in a sentence?

Here is “averted” used in a sentence: “He gave his apology with eyes averted, too embarrassed to look at her.”

What part of speech is “averted”?

“Averted” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “averted” have?

“Averted” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: turned away, especially to avoid looking at something or showing an emotion.