it was averted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was averted" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a situation or event that was prevented from happening or avoided. Example: "The crisis was serious, but thanks to quick action, it was averted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In Ukraine, it emerged after the "orange revolution" of 2004, there had at times been a real and imminent threat of awful violence, but it was averted, thanks in part to the intervention of the Americans and others.

The Economist

It was averted only at the 11th hour.

Los Angeles Times

The incident, that came to be known as the enlèvement of the dauphin, almost caused full-scale war, but it was averted at that time.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The clinicians did not have to explain away the pain of self-mutilation with some form of more complicated 'exchange mechanism' such as Menninger's (who excused the pain and loss of self-mutilation by claiming that it was averting the greater loss of suicide, trading pain and perhaps an appendage in return for viable psychic existence).

History of the Human Sciences

"It is averted by the proper sacrifice of an animal".

The New Yorker

Everyone in UMNO agrees that trouble lies ahead.In this section Reflecting on the Taliban Further into Taliban country Money politics, continued War without bloodshed Rejoice, damn you Versailles in green nylon Rudd floats an Asian balloon Um, no change Re-hyphenated ReprintsCan it be averted?

The Economist

"Nowadays it's averting to hear in the phone receiver any sound other than human voice music means that we have to wait for the answer of the operator, strange electronic noises imply some mistake in decoding," says ::vtol::.

Vice

The crisis, it seemed, was averted.

The New York Times

Yeltsin, acting on his own instinct and initiative, simply refused to believe it, and an apocalyptic nightmare was averted.

The Guardian

"It appears that a tragedy was averted tonight, that a car bomb failed to detonate in Times Square on a busy Saturday," Mr. Kelly said through a spokesman.

The New York Times

Catastrophe was averted.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was averted" when you want to emphasize that a specific threat or negative situation was successfully prevented, often through deliberate action or intervention.

Common error

Avoid using "averted" to describe actions that actively cause something to happen. "Avert" implies preventing something negative, not initiating a positive outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was averted" typically functions as a statement indicating that a potentially negative situation or event has been successfully prevented from occurring. Ludwig AI confirms this, as shown in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was averted" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that conveys the successful prevention of a negative outcome. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is commonly found in news and media contexts, as well as in scientific and wiki sources. While its frequency is uncommon, its meaning is clear and its usage is appropriate for formal to neutral registers. When using this phrase, ensure that you are accurately describing the prevention of a negative situation and not implying active causation. Related phrases such as "it was prevented" or "disaster was averted" can provide suitable alternatives depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was prevented

Replaces "averted" with "prevented", focusing on the act of stopping something from happening.

it was avoided

Substitutes "averted" with "avoided", highlighting the action of steering clear of a potential problem.

it was prevented from happening

Adds specificity by clarifying that something was stopped from occurring.

the crisis was avoided

Focuses specifically on a "crisis" being avoided, adding a contextual element.

the danger was avoided

Similar to above but uses "danger" for potentially harmful situation.

it did not happen

Expresses the prevention of an event by stating it never occurred.

it was not allowed to happen

Emphasizes an active decision to prevent the event from taking place.

the threat was neutralized

Highlights that the threat was made harmless or ineffective.

disaster was averted

Focuses on the avoidance of a "disaster", implying significant negative consequences.

the problem was sidestepped

Indicates that an issue was cleverly bypassed or circumvented.

FAQs

What does "it was averted" mean?

The phrase "it was averted" means that something negative or undesirable was successfully prevented from happening. A crisis, danger, or problem was avoided, typically through some form of intervention or preventative action.

What can I say instead of "it was averted"?

You can use alternatives like "it was prevented", "it was avoided", or "disaster was averted" depending on the context.

Is "avert" the same as "avoid"?

While similar, "avert" often implies a more significant or imminent danger that was turned away, whereas "avoid" can refer to simply keeping clear of something. Averting suggests a more active intervention. You can avoid a person, or avert a war.

How to use "it was averted" in a sentence?

Use "it was averted" to describe how a negative situation was successfully prevented. For example, "The crisis was serious, but luckily, "it was averted" thanks to the swift actions of the team."