# avert

> English word · Verb · IPA /əˈvɝt/ · frequency rank #24,090

## Definitions
1. To turn aside or away.
2. To ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of.
3. To turn away.

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

## Easily confused with
- **Ayer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/avert-vs-ayer)
- **Avery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/avert-vs-avery)
- **averted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/avert-vs-averted)
- **art** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/art-vs-avert)
- **ave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ave-vs-avert)
- **acer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acer-vs-avert)
- **agent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/agent-vs-avert)
- **apart** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/apart-vs-avert)
- **alert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alert-vs-avert)
- **arent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/arent-vs-avert)
- **avant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/avant-vs-avert)
- **adept** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adept-vs-avert)
- **abort** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abort-vs-avert)
- **Albert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/albert-vs-avert)
- **advent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/advent-vs-avert)
- **assert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/assert-vs-avert)
- **advert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/advert-vs-avert)
- **averse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/averse-vs-avert)
- **adverb** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adverb-vs-avert)

## Common misspellings (7)
`aevrt`, `averrt`, `avertt`, `avetr`, `avret`, `avvert`, `vaert`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/avert