averting

USAGE SUMMARY

'averting' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It means to prevent or avoid something from happening. It is often used in situations where a negative outcome is anticipated or feared and actions are taken to prevent it. Example: The quick actions of the firefighters averted a major disaster at the chemical plant. In this example, 'averting' is used to describe the successful prevention of a potential disaster.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was a little reminiscent of that scene in The Godfather when Al Pacino leaves a "mediation" meeting with his father's would-be killers to go to the lavatory in an Italian restaurant in New York chosen for peace talks aimed at averting an all out war.

The Guardian

"The scientific consensus on climate change has never been greater and we have been told that the only way we have a chance of averting catastrophe is by leaving large reserves of oil in the ground".

The Guardian - Business

"Our predictions highlight the rapidly closing window of opportunity for controlling the outbreak, and averting a catastrophic toll of new Ebola cases and deaths in the coming months," warns Alison Galvani, senior author and professor of epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health.

The Guardian

Rather than averting their eyes from the problems on their doorstep in favour of "the left bank of the Niger", their focus does occasionally fall on domestic matters, but never the ones most deserving of their attention.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the short term it is more expensive, but financially, and on social and humanitarian grounds, there are significant savings in the long term by averting future offending.

The Guardian - Opinion

By articulating their fears, Powell's notorious speech may have given them a mainstream voice, thereby averting a greater conflagration.

The Guardian

Though Mr Obama gave military help to Libyan rebels against Muammar Qaddafi, averting threatened massacres, scars were left by the murder of America's ambassador and three aides, and reports of loose weapons flooding the wider region.But caution is not the only problem.

The Economist

But more progress not less offers the best chance of averting it.

The Economist

If Iran got the bomb, sometime enemies such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia might feel compelled to follow suit.Europe's chanceIn short, though a nuclear Iran may not be worth fighting a war to avert, it is a danger worth averting.

The Economist

Amsterdam's wild side Where eagles dare Hearts and minds The long view Trees of knowledge Averting the sixth extinction Sources & acknowledgmentsReprintsHalf of the world's plant and animal species are believed to live in rainforest, so destroying it is a sure way of wiping out large swathes of biodiversity.

The Economist

The best chance of averting carnage in the Kenyan capital Nairobi looks to be luck and jihadist incompetence.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "averting" when you want to emphasize the successful prevention of a negative outcome, often involving proactive measures or specific actions taken to avoid a potential crisis.

Common error

While "avoiding" is a synonym, "averting" often implies a more significant or critical situation. Don't use "avoiding" if you want to convey the idea that specific actions were crucial in preventing a serious problem; use "averting" instead.

Linguistic Context

Averting functions primarily as a verb in its present participle form, often used to describe an ongoing action of preventing something undesirable. Ludwig provides numerous examples where "averting" is used to describe preventing crises, wars, or disasters, confirming its role in indicating preventative action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "averting" is a verb form that denotes the act of preventing something negative from occurring. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in English. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, "averting" emphasizes proactive measures to avoid significant and often critical situations. Alternatives include "preventing", "avoiding", and "forestalling", each offering slight differences in nuance. When writing, remember that "averting" is best used when you want to convey the successful prevention of a potentially serious problem, and is not simply interchangeable with "avoiding". This guide provides practical tips and identifies common errors to ensure accurate and effective usage of "averting" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preventing

Focuses on stopping something from happening.

avoiding

Emphasizes keeping away from something.

forestalling

Highlights proactive measures to prevent something.

precluding

Suggests making something impossible.

staving off

Implies delaying or warding off something negative.

heading off

Focuses on intercepting and stopping something in its early stages.

warding off

Suggests deflecting or protecting against something.

obviating

Means eliminating the need for something by taking prior action.

averting the risk of

Explicitly frames the action as reducing potential danger.

mitigating

Focuses on reducing the severity of something.

FAQs

How is "averting" typically used in a sentence?

"Averting" is used as a verb, often in its present participle form, to describe the action of preventing something negative from happening. For example, "The measures taken are "aimed at" "averting a crisis"".

What are some alternatives to "averting"?

Alternatives include "preventing", "avoiding", "forestalling", and "precluding". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

When should I use "averting" instead of "avoiding"?

"Averting" implies a more significant or critical situation where specific actions were crucial in preventing a serious problem. "Avoiding" is more general. Use "averting" when you want to emphasize the importance and impact of the preventive actions.

What does it mean to talk about "averting the risk of" something?

To talk about "averting the risk of" something means to take actions to prevent a potential danger or negative outcome from materializing. It emphasizes proactive risk management and mitigation strategies.