Avert vs. Evert — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 21, 2024
"Avert" refers to turning away or preventing something undesirable, while "evert" means to turn outward or inside out, commonly used in medical contexts.
Difference Between Avert and Evert
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Key Differences
Avert is typically used to describe actions taken to prevent an undesirable outcome, such as averting a crisis or an accident. On the other hand, evert specifically refers to turning something outward or inside out, often used in anatomical or surgical contexts to describe the movement of body parts.
When one averts their eyes or attention, they are diverting them away from something, implying a conscious choice to ignore or avoid certain stimuli. Whereas, to evert something, like an eyelid during an examination, involves a physical manipulation to expose what is normally concealed.
In strategic contexts, averting disaster involves proactive measures and planning to ward off potential problems before they escalate. In contrast, evert is used in scenarios like medical procedures where the action is more about revealing or altering physical positions.
Averting is often associated with scenarios that require quick thinking and preventative measures, such as averting a collision. On the other hand, evert is associated with precise, deliberate actions that change the natural or usual state of things, like everting a container to empty its contents.
While "avert" is commonly used in everyday language across various contexts—from business to personal safety—implying a broad application, "evert" remains largely technical and specific to fields like medicine and biology.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To turn away or prevent
To turn outward or inside out
Common Usage
Preventing accidents, disasters
Medical procedures, anatomical descriptions
Contextual Scope
Broad, applicable in many scenarios
Specific, mostly medical and biological contexts
Action Type
Often metaphorical or strategic
Physically manipulative, literal
Example Application
Averting one's gaze, averting a crisis
Everting an eyelid, everting the stomach in surgery
Compare with Definitions
Avert
To forestall.
The emergency plan averted further damage during the flood.
Evert
To turn inside out.
The surgeon everted the tissue during the procedure.
Avert
To ward off.
The mayor's decision averted a major public outcry.
Evert
To expose something usually hidden.
He everted the pockets of his jacket looking for his keys.
Avert
To prevent or avoid.
Quick action averted the traffic accident.
Evert
To turn outward.
The biologist everted the frog's legs to study the muscle structure.
Avert
To deflect.
He averted criticism by changing the subject.
Evert
Used in anatomical terms.
An ophthalmologist may evert an eyelid to examine it.
Avert
To turn away
Avert one's eyes.
Evert
To reverse the normal position.
During the demonstration, the instructor everted the container to empty its contents.
Avert
To keep from happening; prevent
Averted an accident by turning sharply.
Evert
Evert is a Dutch and Swedish short form of the Germanic masculine name "Everhard" (alternative Eberhard). It is also used as surname.
Avert
(transitive) To turn aside or away.
I averted my eyes while my friend typed in her password.
Evert
To turn inside out or outward.
Avert
(transitive) To ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of.
How can the danger be averted?
Evert
To turn inside out (like a pocket being emptied) or outwards.
Avert
To turn away.
Evert
To move (someone or something) out of the way.
Avert
To turn aside, or away; as, to avert the eyes from an object; to ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of; as, how can the danger be averted? "To avert his ire."
When atheists and profane persons do hear of so many discordant and contrary opinions in religion, it doth avert them from the church.
Till ardent prayer averts the public woe.
Evert
To turn upside down; to overturn.
Avert
To turn away.
Cold and averting from our neighbor's good.
Evert
To disrupt; to overthrow.
Avert
Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening;
Let's avoid a confrontation
Head off a confrontation
Avert a strike
Evert
To overthrow; to subvert.
Avert
Turn away or aside;
They averted their eyes when the King entered
Evert
To turn outwards, or inside out, as an intestine.
Evert
United States tennis player who won women's singles titles in the United States and at Wimbledon (born in 1954)
Evert
Turn inside out; turn the inner surface of outward;
Evert the eyelid
Common Curiosities
What are some common situations where "avert" is used?
"Avert" is commonly used in situations involving preventing accidents, disasters, or any undesirable situations.
How is "evert" used in a surgical context?
In surgery, "evert" is used to describe the action of turning a part of the body, such as skin or an eyelid, outward to expose underlying structures.
What does it mean to avert something?
To avert something means to prevent it or turn away from it, avoiding undesirable outcomes.
How might a biologist use the term "evert"?
A biologist might use the term "evert" when describing the process of turning an organ or appendage inside out for examination or study.
What does evert mean in medical terms?
In medical terms, to evert something means to turn it outward or inside out, usually referring to body parts during examinations or procedures.
Can "avert" and "evert" be used interchangeably?
No, "avert" and "evert" cannot be used interchangeably as they have different meanings and are used in different contexts.
What is an example of averting a crisis?
Implementing safety measures in advance to prevent a predicted flood can be an example of averting a crisis.
Is "avert" a physical or metaphorical action?
"Avert" can be both physical, as in turning one's head away, and metaphorical, as in avoiding a topic in conversation.
How does the application of "avert" in business contexts differ from personal safety?
In business, "avert" might involve strategic decisions to avoid financial losses, whereas in personal safety, it involves actions to prevent physical harm.
Is "evert" a common term outside of specialized fields?
"Evert" is not commonly used outside of specialized fields such as medicine and biology; it is a technical term.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
