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

Rio Dyer and James Botham crossed for what were consolation tries that, in the last minute, ensured Wales avoided a worst ever home defeat.

From BBC

“Maybe that would be a good thing we would like to avoid from a dying former President,” Rogan said.

From Salon

Clayman also says having some non-spending ways of coping with stress, anger or frustration in place can help you avoid doom spending.

From Salon

In the early days, actually through much of 2020, when people were recommending avoiding indoor gatherings, we were very dismissive of people gathering in churches, kind of dismissed it as not-an-essential thing.

From Salon

I recently got a letter with my mortgage lender’s name in the window and opened it to find a warning that this was my “FINAL NOTICE” to avoid a monthly payment increase.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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