To turn one's face or eyes away; to avert or look away from something (transitive). Often used when avoiding sights or realities that are unpleasant.
彼は痛々しい場面から目を背けた。
He turned his eyes away from the painful scene.
つらい過去を思い出して、彼女は顔を背けた。
Remembering the painful past, she averted her face.
議員は不都合な質問に対してしばしば視線を背ける。
Politicians often avert their gaze in response to inconvenient questions.