WordWeb Online

1. The act of preventing something from occurring
   "averting danger was his responsibility"
    
2. The act of turning yourself (or your gaze) away
   "averting her gaze meant that she was angry"
   - aversion

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

See also: avertible

Type of: avoidance, bar, dodging, forbid, foreclose, forestall, preclude, prevent, prevention, shunning, turn, turning away