evade

[ih-veyd]

verb (used with object)

evaded, evading 

1. to escape from by trickery or cleverness.

   to evade one's pursuers.

   Synonyms: dodge, avoid
   Antonyms: confront, face

2. to get around by trickery.

   to evade rules.

3. to avoid doing or fulfilling.

   to evade an obligation.

4. to avoid answering directly.

   to evade a question.

5. to elude; escape.

   The solution evaded him.

verb (used without object)

evaded, evading 

1. to avoid doing or fulfilling something.

2. to elude or get away from someone or something by craft or slyness; escape.

evade

/ ɪˈveɪd /

verb

1. to get away from or avoid (imprisonment, captors, etc); escape

2. to get around, shirk, or dodge (the law, a duty, etc)

3. (also intr) to avoid answering (a question)

Other Word Forms

• evadable adjective
• evadible adjective
• evader noun
• evadingly adverb
• nonevadable adjective
• nonevadible adjective
• nonevading adjective
• nonevadingly adverb
• preevade verb (used with object)
• unevadable adjective
• unevaded adjective
• unevadible adjective
• unevading adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of evade¹

First recorded in 1505–15; from Latin ēvādere “to pass over, go out,” equivalent to ē- “out of, from” + vādere “to go, walk” e- ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of evade¹

C16: from French évader, from Latin ēvādere to go forth, from vādere to go

Synonym Study

See escape.

Example Sentences

The captain of an oil tanker believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet" of vessels used to evade sanctions has been charged by French authorities.

From BBC

French soldiers have boarded an oil tanker believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet", used to evade sanctions imposed because of the war in Ukraine.

From BBC

Qian had been "evading justice" for five years up to her arrest, which required a complex investigation involving multiple jurisdictions, said Detective Sergeant Isabella Grotto, who led the Met's investigation.

From BBC

He was using an alias in an attempt to evade detection.

From BBC

While self-initiated terrorism remained the Met's primary concern, Cdr Murphy said foreign states such as Russia and Iran were increasingly exploiting young people to evade stronger security measures.

From BBC

Related Words

• avoid 
• bypass 
• circumvent 
• conceal 
• deceive 
• dodge 
• elude 
• escape 
• fend off www.thesaurus.com
• flee 
• get around 
• hide 
• sidestep