What does averse mean?
"Averse" is a formal adjective describing a settled feeling of dislike, distaste, or opposition toward something, and it is nearly always followed by the preposition "to": one may be averse to risk, averse to conflict, or averse to public speaking. Because it expresses reluctance or unwillingness rather than active hostility, it often carries a measured, restrained tone — someone averse to change simply resists it rather than campaigning against it. The word derives from the Latin "aversus," the past participle of "avertere," meaning "to turn away from," so its imagery is literal: turning oneself away from the thing disliked. A closely related term, "adverse," describes unfavorable conditions such as adverse weather, and the two are frequently confused because they share a common root in the Latin verb "vertere," "to turn." In everyday usage, "averse" appears often in financial and psychological contexts — notably in the fixed phrase "risk-averse" — and the understated construction "not averse to" politely signals mild willingness. Its noun form, "aversion," names the dislike itself.
adjectiveFeeling strong dislike or opposition to something; unwilling or reluctant to do or accept something.
- Having a feeling of dislike, distaste, or opposition toward something (typically followed by "to").
- Unwilling or reluctant to do or accept something.
"She was averse to taking risks, preferring the security of a steady paycheck."
"Many investors are averse to putting their money into volatile markets."
"He was not averse to a little hard work when it came to his garden."
It comes from the same Latin verb as "reverse" — literally to turn away from something, which is exactly what an averse person does.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of averse
"Averse" entered English in the early 17th century, borrowed from the Latin "aversus," the past participle of "avertere," meaning "to turn away." The underlying root is the Latin verb "vertere," "to turn," which also gives English words such as "reverse," "convert," "version," and the near-twin "adverse" (from "advertere," "to turn toward"), explaining why the two adjectives share both ancestry and confusion. The noun "aversion" developed alongside it from the same participle.
Related word forms
How averse is actually used
Formal to neutral register; almost always followed by the preposition "to" plus a noun or gerund. It is predicated chiefly of people rather than things. The phrase "not averse to" is a common understated way of expressing mild willingness.
Easily confused with averse
"Averse" describes a person's feeling of dislike or opposition (averse to change), while "adverse" describes harmful or unfavorable conditions themselves (adverse weather).