English Dictionary
Definition of “avoid”
avoid (əˈvɔɪd
)
Definitions
verb (tr)
- to keep out of the way of
- to refrain from doing
- to prevent from happening ⇒
to avoid damage to machinery
- law to make (a plea, contract, etc) void; invalidate; quash
- obsolete to expel
- obsolete to depart from
Alternative Forms
aˈvoidable adjective aˈvoidably adverb aˈvoider noun Word Origin
C14: from Anglo-French avoider, from Old French esvuidier, from vuidier to empty, void
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
prevent,
stop,
frustrate,
hamper,
foil,
inhibit,
head off,
avert,
thwart,
intercept,
hinder,
obstruct,
impede,
ward off,
stave off,
forestall,
defend against
Translations
- British English:
avoid
If you avoid something unpleasant that might happen, you take action in order to prevent it from happening....emergency action to avoid a disaster.əˈvɔɪd VERB ...emergency action to avoid a disaster.
- Spanish:
evitar
v
- French:
éviter
v
- German:
vermeiden
v
- Chinese: 避免 v
- Arabic: يَتَجَنَّبُ v
- Portuguese: evitar v
- Russian: избегать v
- Croatian: izbjegavati v
- Czech: vyvarovat (se) v vyvarovávat(se)
- Danish: undgå v
- Dutch: vermijden v
- Finnish: välttää v
- Greek: αποφεύγω v
- Italian: evitare v
- Japanese: 避ける v
- Korean: 피하다 v
- Norwegian: unngå v
- Polish: uniknąć v unikać
- Brazilian Portuguese: evitar v
- European Spanish:
evitar
v
- Swedish: undvika v
- Thai: หลีกเลี่ยง v
- Turkish: kaçınmak v
- Vietnamese: tránh v
Usage examples
I was in luck, for Karen was in the tiny cubicle she calls an office, desperate for an excuse to avoid doing the paperwork.
Val McDermid, KICK BACK (2002)HIPs will go a long way to providing vital information on a property, helping to avoid costly last minute hitches.
Country Life (2004)Russia, Saudi Arabia and Jordan have urged Baghdad to bend to international pressure in order to avoid war.
Irish Times (2002)Place your Villa on the man in form at Thirsk To beat the bookies avoid Newmarket
Glasgow Herald (2001)For most of us this was a totally unpleasant experience, one we decided to avoid for the rest of our lives.
Dorothy Rowe, BEYOND FEAR (2002)
