verb
Uncommon
evade
ih-VAYD
Evade (verb) means to cleverly avoid or escape something, such as a person, question, or duty. Example: “He evaded the reporter's question with a joke.”
verb
1
To cleverly avoid or escape something, such as a person, question, or duty.
"He evaded the reporter's question with a joke."
"The suspect evaded police for three days."
How to use evade
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo dodge or slip away from something using cleverness rather than force.
Common mistake
Evade means to avoid through cunning; avoid is more neutral and doesn't imply trickery.
Common pairings
evade taxes
evade capture
evade the question
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- evades
- Past tense
- evaded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ the reporter's question with a joke.
Etymology
From Latin ēvādō, "to go out or escape" — from ē- ("out of") + vādō ("to go, walk"), related to wade.
Synonyms
View more →
duck
fudge
circumvent
bilk
elude
equivocate
shuffle
dodge
end-run
sidestep
give the go-by
give someone the runaround
Related words
Rhymes for evade
See all rhymes for evade →Frequently asked questions
What does “evade” mean?
The word “evade” means to cleverly avoid or escape something, such as a person, question, or duty. In plain terms, to dodge or slip away from something using cleverness rather than force.
How do you pronounce “evade”?
“Evade” is pronounced ih-VAYD (/ɪˈveɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “evade” in a sentence?
Here is “evade” used in a sentence: “He evaded the reporter's question with a joke.”
What is another word for “evade”?
Words with a similar meaning to “evade” include equivocate, shuffle, dodge, end-run, sidestep and give the go-by.
What part of speech is “evade”?
“Evade” is a verb.
Where does the word “evade” come from?
The word “evade” comes from Latin. From Latin ēvādō, "to go out or escape" — from ē- ("out of") + vādō ("to go, walk"), related to wade.
Is “evade” a common word?
“Evade” is an uncommon word in modern English.
