averts

Averts is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb avert. It means to turn away from something or to prevent something undesirable from happening. The term is commonly used to describe deliberate actions that reduce risk or danger.

Etymology: Avert derives from Middle English averten, from Old French avertir or averter, ultimately from Latin vertere “to turn,” with prefixes implying away. The sense of turning away or warding off evolved into the meaning of preventing in English usage.

Usage: Averts can be transitive, as in “The measures avert a crisis,” or intransitive with a reflexive object such as “averts his gaze.” It appears in formal, journalistic, and narrative styles to indicate proactive protection or prevention rather than mere avoidance.

Grammar and style notes: The verb often conveys active intervention to prevent harm, rather than simply avoiding an action. Related forms include avert, averting, and averted. Synonyms include prevent, ward off, stave off, and forestall; each carries subtle nuances about immediacy, agency, and scope of prevention.

See also: Prevention, Risk management, Crisis averted.