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

Derived Forms

• aˈvoidably, adverb
• aˈvoidable, adjective
• aˈvoider, noun

Other Words From

• a·voida·ble adjective
• a·voida·bly adverb
• a·voider noun
• nona·voida·ble adjective
• nona·voida·ble·ness noun
• nona·voida·bly adverb
• una·voiding 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

The impetus behind tariffs is often to level the economic playing field, such as to avoid letting China subsidize production to create monopolies, said Usha Haley, professor of international business at Wichita State University.

From Salon

The station was evacuated and remains closed, while nearby Killermont Street was shut to traffic and people were urged to avoid the area.

From BBC

Philp called for it to be widened to cover when police should deal with these incidents at all, to create "quite a high bar" and to avoid "wasting" their time and resources.

From BBC

At 10am, red lights flashed up on a map of Britain as prepayment meters ran out of money, and the firm extended “friendly credit” to avoid a middle-of-the-night cut off.

From BBC

A number of carmakers are already struggling to meet their targets, although there are flexible mechanisms built into the rules which should allow them to avoid fines for the moment.

From BBC

Related Words

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