WordWeb Online

1. Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
   "avert a strike"
   - debar, forefend, forfend, obviate, deflect, head off, stave off, fend off, avoid, ward off
    
2. Turn away or aside
   "They averted their eyes when the King entered"
   - turn away

Derived forms: averted, averting, averts

See also: aversion, avertible

Type of: forbid, foreclose, forestall, preclude, prevent, turn