Avoid definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

Avoid definition: If you avoid something unpleasant that might happen ... [VERB verb-ing] ... If you avoid doing something, you choose not to do it, ... EnglishDictionary Thesaurus WordLists Grammar EnglishEasyLearningGrammar GrammarPatterns EnglishUsage TeachingResources VideoGuides Conjugations Sentences Quiz Englishgrammar Englishcollocations Englishconfusables Englishidioms Englishusage Thematicwordlists English French German Italian Spanish Portuguese Hindi Chinese Korean Japanese Definitionof 'avoid'    WordFrequency Share× Credits× avoid (əvɔɪd ) Wordforms:3rdpersonsingularpresent tenseavoids ,presentparticipleavoiding ,pasttense,pastparticipleavoided 1. verb Ifyouavoidsomethingunpleasantthatmighthappen,youtakeactioninordertopreventitfromhappening. Thepilotshadtotakeemergencyactiontoavoidadisaster.[VERBnoun] Shetookadifferentroutetoworktoavoidgettingstuckintraffic.[VERBverb-ing] Synonyms:prevent,stop,frustrate,hamper MoreSynonymsofavoid 2. verb Ifyouavoiddoingsomething,youchoosenottodoit,oryouputyourselfinasituationwhereyoudonothavetodoit. Swannmanagedtoavoidlearningthatlessonforalongtime.[VERBverb-ing] Hewasalwayscarefultoavoidembarrassment.[VERBnoun] 3. verb Ifyouavoidapersonorthing,youkeepawayfromthem.Whentalkingtosomeone,ifyouavoidthesubject,youkeeptheconversationawayfromaparticulartopic. Sheeventuallyhadtolockherselfinthetoiletstoavoidhim.[VERBnoun] Allthroughlunchhehadcarefullyavoidedthesubjectofthehouse.[VERBnoun] Synonyms:elude,escape,ignore,hidefrom MoreSynonymsofavoid 4. verb Ifapersonorvehicleavoidssomeoneorsomething,theychangethedirectiontheyaremovingin,sothattheydonothitthem. Thedriverhadampletimetobrakeorswerveandavoidthewoman.[VERBnoun] Synonyms:keepawayfrom,dodge,shun,evade MoreSynonymsofavoid 5. toavoidsomeoneorsomethingliketheplague MoreSynonymsofavoid COBUILDAdvancedEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers Video:pronunciationof avoid Youmayalsolike EnglishQuizConfusables Synonymsof'avoid' LanguageLover'sBlog FrenchTranslationof'avoid' Translateyourtext PronunciationPlaylists Wordoftheday:'LadyMacbethstrategy' HindiTranslationof'avoid' NEWfromCollins! EnglishGrammar CollinsApps WordFrequency avoidinBritishEnglish (əˈvɔɪd ) verb(transitive)1. tokeepoutofthewayof 2. torefrainfromdoing 3. topreventfromhappening toavoiddamagetomachinery 4. law tomake(aplea,contract,etc)void;invalidate;quash 5. obsolete toexpel 6. obsolete todepartfrom CollinsEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers Derivedformsavoidable(aˈvoidable)adjective avoidably(aˈvoidably)adverb avoider(aˈvoider)noun WordoriginC14:fromAnglo-Frenchavoider,fromOldFrenchesvuidier,fromvuidiertoempty,void WordFrequency avoidinAmericanEnglish (əˈvɔɪd ) verbtransitive1.  tomakevoid;annul,invalidate,orquash(aplea,etc.inlaw) 2.  tokeepawayfrom;evade;shun toavoidcrowds 3.  tokeepfromhappening toavoidbreakage 4. Obsolete tovoid;empty 5. Obsolete togoawayfrom;leave SIMILARWORDS: esˈcape Webster’sNewWorldCollegeDictionary,4thEdition.Copyright©2010by HoughtonMifflinHarcourt.Allrightsreserved. Derivedformsavoidable(aˈvoidable) adjective avoidably(aˈvoidably) adverb WordoriginMEavoiden