avoid

verb

ə-ˈvȯid 

avoided; avoiding; avoids

transitive verb

1

a

: to keep away from : shun

They have been avoiding me.

b

: to prevent the occurrence or effectiveness of

avoid further delays

c

: to refrain from

avoid overeating

2

law : to make legally void (see void entry 1 sense 1a) : annul

avoid a plea

3

archaic : to depart or withdraw from : leave

4

obsolete : void, expel

avoidable

ə-ˈvȯi-də-bəl 

adjective

avoidably

ə-ˈvȯi-də-blē 

adverb

avoider noun

Synonyms

• dodge
• duck
• elude
• escape
• eschew
• evade
• finesse
• get around
• scape
• shake
• shirk
• shuffle (out of)
• shun
• weasel (out of)

Choose the Right Synonym for avoid

escape, avoid, evade, elude, shun, eschew mean to get away or keep away from something.

escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence.

you have shunned your responsibilities

eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

Examples of avoid in a Sentence

Why do you keep avoiding me?

She took a detour to avoid the heavy traffic.

They successfully avoided each other for days.

He tried hard to avoid accidents.

We need to avoid further delays.

He was caught trying to avoid arrest.

in an effort to avoid confusion

I'm not going to be late if I can avoid it.

How can I avoid paying too much tax?

I am trying to avoid showing any hint of favoritism.

Recent Examples on the Web

Remember to keep a thorough record of your communication in writing to avoid any misunderstandings. —Christopher Elliott The Travel Troubleshooter, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2025

President-elect Trump wants congressional Republicans to figure out a way to avoid a default on the national debt after venting his frustration with the Senate GOP over their failure to raise the debt limit as part of a government-funding package last month. —Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025

Related article Nearly half of dementia cases could be avoided or delayed by tackling 14 risk factors As the US population ages, the number of people diagnosed with dementia each year is projected to double – from about 514,000 cases in 2020 to about 1 million a year by 2060. —Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 13 Jan. 2025

When Russia targets other European neighbors, though, the West resorts to its own euphemisms to avoid directly acknowledging what Putin is doing. —Phillips Payson O’Brien, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French avoider, alteration of Old French esvuider, from es- (from Latin ex-) + vuider to empty — more at void entry 3

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing avoid

• avoid (someone or something) like the plague

Kids Definition

avoid

verb

ə-ˈvȯid 

1

: to keep away from

they have been avoiding me

2

: to keep from happening

avoid an accident

3

: to keep from doing or being

avoid getting too tired

avoidable

-ə-bəl 

adjective

avoidably

-blē 

adverb

avoider noun

Legal Definition

avoid

transitive verb

1

: to make void or undo : annul

the trustee may avoid any transfer of interest of the debtor in property

—U.S. Code

2

: to respond to (an allegation or averment) by declaring that facts alleged do not result in liability

averments in a pleading to which no responsive pleading is required or permitted shall be taken as denied or avoided

—U.S. Code

see also confession and avoidance compare deny

3

: to prevent the occurrence of or responsibility for especially through lawful means

avoid a tax

compare evade

avoidability noun

avoidable adjective

avoidance noun

Etymology

modification of Old French esvuider to destroy, literally, to empty, from es- out + vuider to empty