avoid

[uh-void]

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.

avoid

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of avoid¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of avoid¹

C14: from Anglo-French avoider, from Old French esvuidier, from vuidier to empty, _void

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Robbie Savage says he wishes he had turned down Strictly Come Dancing until after his coaching career - to avoid being labelled "another celebrity manager".

Read more on BBC

Warner says Australia's chances of winning the series would improve if they avoid antagonising Stokes.

Read more on BBC

"At times like this, I would ask that everyone is careful to avoid speculation online."

Read more on BBC

Israel made clear before the release process that it wanted to avoid the jubilant scenes that surrounded prisoners arriving in Ramallah during previous hostage deals, when large crowds waved Hamas flags.

Read more on BBC

An ING economist believes both the U.S. and China want to avoid escalating trade tensions, favoring a continued trade truce.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• avert 
• bypass 
• dodge 
• escape 
• evade 
• fend off www.thesaurus.com
• shun 
• sidestep 
• ward off