avoid
verb (used with object)
to keep away from; keep clear of; shun.
were avoiding
-
past progressiveof avoid.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The venue was created to adapt to a world in which companies were avoiding publicly listing, potentially locking in early-stage investors for indeterminate amounts of time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
It’s not like we were avoiding working together, but we certainly weren’t in a big hurry to work together.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 15, 2026
Executives in London -- the world's top shipping insurance market -- insisted captains were avoiding the route to protect their crews, not because they could not get insured.
From Barron's ● Mar. 29, 2026
It was more likely they were avoiding social services as they did not want Morgana taken into care, the court heard.
From BBC ● Feb. 24, 2024
She noticed that friends and relatives were avoiding her.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
