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

But Max can potentially allow the authorities to read your messages as well - and avoiding the app is getting harder.

From BBC

His son Thiago is in Arsenal's academy and Sterling wants to avoid disrupting his family life again.

From BBC

Poundland recently avoided collapsing into administration after its turnaround plan was approved days before the chain was due to run out of money.

From BBC

“I think Democrats are going to want to avoid that feeling in ‘26 and ‘28,” he adds.

From Salon

South Korean companies have promised to invest billions of dollars in key US industries in the coming years, partly as a way to avoid tariffs.

From BBC

Related Words

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