avert
Meaning: To prevent or ward off an undesirable event from occurring; also, to turn away one's eyes or attention from something.
Avert has two distinct senses. The more common modern usage means to prevent a disaster, crisis, or catastrophe through timely action. The older, physical sense — to turn away one's gaze — survives in phrases like 'avert one's eyes.' Both senses are well established in formal writing and journalism.
Examples
- Last-minute negotiations averted a nationwide rail strike that would have caused chaos for millions of commuters. 最后一刻的谈判避免了一场本将给数百万通勤者带来混乱的全国性铁路罢工。Las negociaciones de última hora evitaron una huelga ferroviaria nacional que habría causado el caos a millones de viajeros.土壇場の交渉により、何百万人もの通勤者に混乱をもたらすはずだった全国規模の鉄道ストライキが回避された。막판 협상 덕분에 수백만 통근자에게 혼란을 초래했을 전국적 철도 파업이 회피되었다.
- She averted her eyes from the grisly scene and hurried past without stopping. 她从那令人毛骨悚然的场景前移开目光,匆匆走过没有停留。Apartó la mirada de la escena macabra y pasó apresuradamente sin detenerse.彼女はその凄惨な光景から目をそらし、立ち止まらずに足早に通り過ぎた。그녀는 그 참혹한 광경에서 눈을 돌리고 멈추지 않은 채 서둘러 지나갔다.
- The government insists that the bailout was necessary to avert a complete collapse of the banking system. 政府坚持认为,救助措施对于避免银行体系的全面崩溃是必要的。El gobierno insiste en que el rescate fue necesario para evitar un colapso total del sistema bancario.政府は、銀行システムの完全崩壊を回避するために救済措置が必要だったと主張している。정부는 은행 시스템의 완전한 붕괴를 막기 위해 구제 금융이 필요했다고 주장하고 있다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: journalism, general, professional
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin avertere (to turn away), from ab- (from) + vertere (to turn). Entered English in the 15th century via Old French avertir.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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