verb A2 Elementary Very common

avoid

uh-VOYD

Avoid (verb) means to keep away from someone or something, especially something unwanted or harmful. Example: “He crossed the street to avoid his ex.”

verb

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."

To prevent something from happening, or to stop yourself from doing something.

"They rescheduled the meeting to avoid a clash with the conference."

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 notes

In 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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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

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".

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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steer clear of keep away from abjure avert stave off dodge duck help elude escape eschew evade

Antonyms

come to grips with confront deal with engage get to grips with take the bull by the horns

Related words

help face friend focus flight agree prevent treat

Rhymes for avoid

void hyoid droid devoid android tabloid steroid typhoid thyroid humanoid asteroid paranoid

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Frequently asked questions

What does “avoid” mean?

The word “avoid” means to keep away from someone or something, especially something unwanted or harmful. In plain terms, to stay away from something, or stop it from happening.

How do you pronounce “avoid”?

“Avoid” is pronounced uh-VOYD (/əˈvɔɪd/ in IPA).

How do you use “avoid” in a sentence?

Here is “avoid” used in a sentence: “He crossed the street to avoid his ex.”

What is another word for “avoid”?

Words with a similar meaning to “avoid” include abjure, avert, stave off, dodge, duck and help.

What is the opposite of “avoid”?

The opposite of “avoid” — its antonyms — are come to grips with, confront, deal with, engage and get to grips with.

What part of speech is “avoid”?

“Avoid” is a verb.

Where does the word “avoid” come from?

The word “avoid” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman avoider, from Old French esvuidier, "to empty out" — from es- + vuidier, related to Latin vacuus, "empty".

Is “avoid” a common word?

“Avoid” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

What is the difference between 'avoid' and 'prevent'?

To avoid something is to keep yourself away from it — 'avoid the busy road.' To prevent something is to stop it from happening at all — 'prevent an accident.' Avoiding protects you by staying clear; preventing stops the event itself, often for everyone involved.

What is the difference between 'avoid' and 'evade'?

Both mean keeping away from something, but 'evade' suggests doing so cleverly or deliberately, often to escape a duty or a pursuer — 'evade capture,' 'evade taxes.' 'Avoid' is neutral and everyday, simply meaning to stay clear of something unwanted, with no hint of trickery.

What is the opposite of 'avoid'?

The opposite of avoid is to face or confront something directly instead of keeping away from it. Depending on context, antonyms include 'face,' 'confront,' 'seek,' 'approach,' and 'embrace.' Where avoid means dodging a problem, its opposite means meeting it head-on.

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