to avert / to turn away
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to avert
To prevent a danger, disaster, or other negative development from happening.
Durch schnelles Handeln konnte die Feuerwehr eine Katastrophe abwenden.
Through quick action, the fire department was able to avert a catastrophe.
to turn away
To turn one's gaze, face, or body away from someone or something, often as a sign of disinterest, shame, or rejection.
Als er sie sah, wandte er sich schnell ab und tat so, als würde er sie nicht kennen.
When he saw her, he quickly turned away and pretended not to know her.
to turn away from
To break off contact with a person, group, or idea and distance oneself from it.
Nach dem Streit haben sich viele seiner alten Freunde von ihm abgewendet.
After the argument, many of his old friends turned away from him.
'Abwenden' (to avert / to turn away) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab-' goes at the end in a main clause. The prefix 'ab-' here means 'away', and the base verb 'wenden' means 'to turn'.
Der Torwart wendet den Ball mit einer schnellen Reaktion ab.
The goalkeeper averts the ball with a quick reaction.
Pay attention to whether the verb is reflexive. Non-reflexive ('etwas abwenden' — to avert something) means 'to prevent'. Reflexive ('sich abwenden' — to turn away) means that a person turns away from something or someone.
Die Regierung versucht, eine Wirtschaftskrise abzuwenden.
The government is trying to avert an economic crisis.
In the meaning 'to prevent', 'abwenden' (to avert) is always combined with something negative. Typical objects are 'Gefahr' (danger), 'Schaden' (damage), 'Unglück' (misfortune/disaster), or 'Katastrophe' (catastrophe).
Durch sein schnelles Eingreifen konnte er größeren Schaden abwenden.
Through his quick intervention, he was able to avert greater damage.
When it means to break off contact with someone, the verb is reflexive and needs the preposition 'von' with the dative. The structure is: sich von jemandem/etwas abwenden (to turn away from someone/something).
Nach dem Verrat wandte sie sich endgültig von ihm ab.
After the betrayal, she turned away from him for good.
to prevent
Both words can express that a negative event does not happen. abwenden is especially associated with dangers, disasters, or negative developments and often sounds precautionary or elevated, while verhindern is more general and immediate. For a specific danger or disaster, abwenden is often the better choice; otherwise, verhindern is usually used.
Das schnelle Eingreifen der Feuerwehr wendete die Gefahr ab.
The fire department's quick response averted the danger.
Das schnelle Eingreifen der Feuerwehr verhinderte das Unglück.
The fire department's quick response prevented the disaster.
