Sentence:  Author of the Albany Plan of Union , which , had it been adopted , might have <WSD>avoided</WSD> the Revolution , he fought the colonists ' front-line battles in London , negotiated the treaty of alliance with France and the peace that ended the war , headed the state government of Pennsylvania , and exercised an important moderating influence at the Federal Convention . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening