avert in WordNet English dictionary

1. turn away or aside
   "They averted their eyes when the King entered"
   avert  turn away 
   
2. prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
   "Let's avoid a confrontation"; "head off a confrontation"; "avert a strike"
   debar  forefend  forfend  obviate  deflect  avert  head off  stave off  fend off  avoid  ward off