avoid

verb

ə-ˈvȯid

avoided; avoiding; avoids

transitive verb

: to keep away from : shun

They have been avoiding me.

: to prevent the occurrence or effectiveness of

avoid further delays

: to refrain from

avoid overeating

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

avoid a plea

archaic : to depart or withdraw from : leave

obsolete : void, expel

avoidable

ə-ˈvȯi-də-bəl How to pronounce avoid (audio)

adjective

avoidably

ə-ˈvȯi-də-blē How to pronounce avoid (audio)

adverb

avoider noun

Example Sentences

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Follow these 4 tips to avoid the disappointment of stubborn zucchini that won't fruit.

Benjamin Whitacre, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2022 And some families have moved out of Newtown to avoid harassment.

CBS News, 13 Sep. 2022 Know your triggers and try to avoid them as much as possible.

Beth Krietsch, SELF, 7 Sep. 2022 Environmental activists said Cheniere was using the global gas shortage — and spiking prices in Europe — to try to avoid meeting EPA rules that many consider lax.

Matthew Daly, Chron, 7 Sep. 2022 Try to avoid working outside or exercising during the hottest parts of the day.

Jen Christensen, CNN, 6 Sep. 2022 Environmental activists said Cheniere was using the global gas shortage — and spiking prices in Europe — to try to avoid meeting EPA rules that many consider lax.

Matthew Daly, ajc, 6 Sep. 2022 Sentiment shifted after Russia indefinitely suspended natural-gas flows to Europe, raising the stakes as governments on the continent try to avoid energy shortages.

Karen Langley, WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022 And Post workers are far from the only ones who try to avoid Zooms and in-person work on Friday.

Jane Thier, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2022 See More

Legal Definition

avoid

transitive verb

: to make void or undo : annul

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

U.S. Code

: 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

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

avoid a tax

compare evade

avoid

verb

as in to evade

to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery trying to avoid writing thank-you notes for the gifts he didn't like

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

evade
escape
prevent
eliminate
dodge
shun
deflect
eschew
elude
thwart
circumvent
shake
scape
exclude
shirk
preclude
obviate
avert
keep clear of
duck
finesse
miss
fight shy of
steer clear of
stay clear of
weasel (out of)
divert
shuffle (out of)
get around
bypass
except
parry
rule out
ban
debar
outsmart
outwit
foil
frustrate
ward (off)
outfox
bar
overreach
fox
skirt

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

seek
accept
pursue
embrace
welcome
incur
catch
court
contract

as in to abolish

to put an end to by formal action asked the court to avoid the contract because it was signed under duress

Synonyms & Similar Words

abolish
repeal
cancel
overturn
void
vacate
nullify
negate
invalidate
quash
dismiss
dissolve
roll back
set aside
withdraw
abrogate
rescind
eliminate
strike down
annul
suspend
null
abate
reverse
revoke
remove
reject
forbid
veto
retract
recall
prohibit
disannul
override
overrule
countermand
ban
erase
call off
abort
disallow
eradicate
enjoin
do away with
outlaw
call
drop
write off
liquidate
annihilate
throw out
break down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

enact
establish
found
lay down
legislate
legitimate
allow
pass
validate
permit
institute
approve
authorize
order
ratify
prescribe
endorse
clear
legitimize
legalize
warrant
formalize
sanction
command
indorse
mandate
decree

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of avoid are elude, escape, eschew, evade, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

While the synonyms elude and avoid are close in meaning, elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

The words escape and avoid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

The words eschew and avoid can be used in similar contexts, but eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

In some situations, the words evade and avoid are roughly equivalent. However, evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

While in some cases nearly identical to avoid, shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence.

you have shunned your responsibilities

单词	avoid
释义	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) See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences 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. See More Recent Examples on the Web Follow these 4 tips to avoid the disappointment of stubborn zucchini that won't fruit. Benjamin Whitacre, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2022 And some families have moved out of Newtown to avoid harassment. CBS News, 13 Sep. 2022 Know your triggers and try to avoid them as much as possible. Beth Krietsch, SELF, 7 Sep. 2022 Environmental activists said Cheniere was using the global gas shortage — and spiking prices in Europe — to try to avoid meeting EPA rules that many consider lax. Matthew Daly, Chron, 7 Sep. 2022 Try to avoid working outside or exercising during the hottest parts of the day. Jen Christensen, CNN, 6 Sep. 2022 Environmental activists said Cheniere was using the global gas shortage — and spiking prices in Europe — to try to avoid meeting EPA rules that many consider lax. Matthew Daly, ajc, 6 Sep. 2022 Sentiment shifted after Russia indefinitely suspended natural-gas flows to Europe, raising the stakes as governments on the continent try to avoid energy shortages. Karen Langley, WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022 And Post workers are far from the only ones who try to avoid Zooms and in-person work on Friday. Jane Thier, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2022 See More 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 2 Phrases Containing avoid avoid (someone or something) like the plague avoid (someone or something) like the plague Kids Definition avoid verb ə-ˈvȯid avoided; avoiding 1 : to keep away from Are you avoiding me? 2 : to keep from happening avoid mistakes 3 : to keep from doing or being Brian turned back to avoid embarrassing the pilot … Gary Paulsen, Hatchet 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 History and Etymology for avoid modification of Old French esvuider to destroy, literally, to empty, from es- out + vuider to empty avoid verb 1 as in to evade to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery trying to avoid writing thank-you notes for the gifts he didn't like Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance evade escape prevent eliminate dodge shun deflect eschew elude thwart circumvent shake scape exclude shirk preclude obviate avert keep clear of duck finesse miss fight shy of steer clear of stay clear of weasel (out of) divert shuffle (out of) get around bypass except parry rule out ban debar outsmart outwit foil frustrate ward (off) outfox bar overreach fox skirt Antonyms & Near Antonyms seek accept pursue embrace welcome incur catch court contract See More 2 as in to abolish to put an end to by formal action asked the court to avoid the contract because it was signed under duress Synonyms & Similar Words abolish repeal cancel overturn void vacate nullify negate invalidate quash dismiss dissolve roll back set aside withdraw abrogate rescind eliminate strike down annul suspend null abate reverse revoke remove reject forbid veto retract recall prohibit disannul override overrule countermand ban erase call off abort disallow eradicate enjoin do away with outlaw call drop write off liquidate annihilate throw out break down Antonyms & Near Antonyms enact establish found lay down legislate legitimate allow pass validate permit institute approve authorize order ratify prescribe endorse clear legitimize legalize warrant formalize sanction command indorse mandate decree See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of avoid are elude, escape, eschew, evade, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty. try to avoid past errors While the synonyms elude and avoid are close in meaning, elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes. what she sees in him eludes me The words escape and avoid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent. nothing escapes her sharp eyes The words eschew and avoid can be used in similar contexts, but eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful. a playwright who eschews melodrama In some situations, the words evade and avoid are roughly equivalent. However, evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding. evaded the question by changing the subject While in some cases nearly identical to avoid, shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence. you have shunned your responsibilities
随便看	on someone's way out on something's way out on speaking terms on spec on special on special offer on staff on standby on steroids on such short notice on sufferance on suspicion of on tap on target on television on telly on tenterhooks on that score on that/this score on the air on the aisle on the alert on the altar of success on the assumption on the attack

avoid

verb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing avoid

Kids Definition

verb

Legal Definition

transitive verb

verb

Synonym Chooser