avoid

/əˈvɔɪd/

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1. verb To keep away from or stop oneself from doing something.
He took a different route to avoid the morning traffic.
2. verb To prevent something undesirable from happening.
The pilot's quick action helped avoid a catastrophe.
3. verb To refrain from doing or partaking in something.
She was advised to avoid fatty foods after her surgery.
4. verb In law, to make void or annul a contract or legal judgment.
The agreement was avoided because it was signed under duress.

📖 Seen in the wild

To avoid traffic, we decided to leave early in the morning.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ avoid in a sentence

Many investors are trying to avoid risk by sticking to government bonds.
Let's try to avoid this topic at dinner; it always leads to an argument.
She managed to avoid answering the reporter's most pointed questions.
The protagonist's fatal flaw was his inability to avoid his destiny.
Please avoid using jargon in your presentation to the new hires.
The new tax law was designed to help small businesses avoid bankruptcy.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

evade shun dodge elude prevent sidestep circumvent escape steer clear of

evade · implies using cleverness or deceit to escape something you should face.

shun · suggests a deliberate and often social act of rejection or ostracism.

dodge · often implies a quick, physical movement but can be used metaphorically for sidestepping issues.

elude · suggests escaping capture or understanding, often through skill or cunning.

Opposites: confront, face, seek, embrace, encounter

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'avoid' traveled from Old French 'esvuidier', which meant 'to empty out'. This came from 'es-' (out) and 'vuidier' (to be empty). Over time, the meaning shifted from the act of emptying a place to withdrawing from it, which then evolved into our modern sense of shunning or keeping away from something.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

avoid contactavoid the issueavoid an accidentavoid detectionavoid responsibilitystrictly avoid

'Avoid' is a versatile, neutral verb for keeping away from something. It is distinct from 'evade', which often carries a negative connotation of shirking a duty, like evading taxes. Also, 'prevent' means to stop something from happening at all, while 'avoid' means to keep yourself away from it. For example, you prevent a fire by being careful, but you avoid a fire by leaving the building.

Word family: avoidance, avoidable, unavoidable, unavoidably

💬 Quick answers

What does 'avoid' mean?

To avoid means to keep away from or stop yourself from doing something. It can also mean to prevent something from happening.

What is the difference between 'avoid' and 'evade'?

'Avoid' is a neutral term for staying away from something. 'Evade' often implies using trickery or deceit to escape something you should be facing, like a question or a responsibility.

Is 'avoid' a formal word?

'Avoid' is a neutral word that is appropriate in both formal and informal settings. It is a standard and widely used term.

What is the noun for 'avoid'?

The noun form is 'avoidance,' which refers to the act of avoiding something, such as in 'tax avoidance' or 'conflict avoidance'.

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