avoid

American  

[uh-void] / əˈvɔɪd /

verb (used with object)

1. to keep away from; keep clear of; shun.

   to avoid a person;

   to avoid taxes;

   to avoid danger.

   Synonyms:

   dodge, elude, evade

   Antonyms:

   encounter, face, confront

2. to prevent from happening.

   to avoid falling.

3. Law. to make void or of no effect; invalidate.

4. Obsolete. to empty; eject or expel.

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avoid British  

/ əˈvɔɪd /

verb

1. to keep out of the way of

2. to refrain from doing

3. to prevent from happening

   to avoid damage to machinery

4. law to make (a plea, contract, etc) void; invalidate; quash

5. obsolete to expel

6. obsolete to depart from

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Related Words

Avoid, escape mean to come through a potentially harmful or unpleasant experience, without suffering serious consequences. To avoid is to succeed in keeping away from something dangerous or undesirable: to avoid meeting an enemy. Escape suggests encountering peril but coming through it safely: to escape drowning.

Other Word Forms

• avoidable adjective
• avoidably adverb
• avoider noun
• nonavoidable adjective
• nonavoidableness noun
• nonavoidably adverb
• unavoiding adjective

Etymology

Origin of avoid

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English avoiden, from Anglo-French avoider, equivalent to a- ⁴ ( def. ) + void ( def. )

Example Sentences

"I remember looking in the mirror thinking 'what have I done?' I began avoiding photos and sometimes wore a cap to hide thinning patches," he said.

From BBC

Federal data show 26 narrowly avoided collisions and 52 runway incidents with significant collision potential occurred between 2021 and 2025 at U.S. airports.

From The Wall Street Journal

But there are definitely moments where it feels like an editor could have helped her avoid violating that old writing adage of “show, don’t tell.”

From Salon

Sanders told the Journal the state didn’t tell Franklin County residents about the plan to put it there until after the government purchased the land—for about $3 million—to avoid a bidding war.

From The Wall Street Journal

Former club Spurs are among the sides currently searching for their next permanent manager, as they face a fight to avoid relegation over the remaining seven games of the campaign.

From BBC

Related Words

• avert
• bypass
• dodge
• escape
• evade
• fend off
• shun
• sidestep