Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

avert

/əˈvɝt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.14 in modern English

Syllables
avert
IPA
/əˈvɝt/
8
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To turn aside or away.

Transitive verb

verb

To ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of.

Transitive verb

verb

To turn away.

Archaic; Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English averten, adverten, from Old French avertir (“turn, direct, avert; turn the attention, make aware”), from Latin āvertere, from ab + vertō (“to turn”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: *wert-, averten, avertir, āvertō

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /əˈvɝt/
  • British English: /əˈvɜːt/

Usage

Inflected Forms

averts (present, singular) averting (participle, present) averted (participle, past) averted (past)

Derived Forms

avertable averter avertible avertress

Synonyms

forestall hinder turn away debar forefend forfend obviate deflect head off stave off fend off avoid

Rhymes With

hurt shirt alert dirt insert skirt kurt dessert assert flirt bert burt

Questions

How do you pronounce avert?
The recorded pronunciation is /əˈvɝt/.
What does avert mean?
To turn aside or away.
Where does avert come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce avert

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “avert”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/əˈvɝt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “avert”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “avert” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.