verb
avoid
uh-VOYD
verb
1
To keep away from someone or something, especially something unwanted or harmful.
"He crossed the street to avoid his ex."
"Try to avoid the motorway at rush hour."
2
To prevent something from happening, or to stop yourself from doing something.
"They rescheduled the meeting to avoid a clash with the conference."
3
legal: To make a contract or legal act void; to cancel it.
"The buyer sought to avoid the contract on the grounds of fraud."
How to Use Avoid
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo stay away from something, or stop it from happening.
Common mistake
Avoid is followed by a gerund, not "to" — say "avoid doing" not "avoid to do".
Common pairings
avoid a mistake
avoid eye contact
avoid conflict
avoid the issue
Word Forms
avoided past tense, avoids singular
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He crossed the street to _____ his ex.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman avoider, from Old French esvuidier, "to empty out" — from es- + vuidier, related to Latin vacuus, "empty".