avoid

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To stay away from a person, place, or thing.

   I try to avoid the main roads during rush hour.

2. 2
   verb

   To choose not to do something, especially something harmful.

   You need to avoid eating ice cream since you're lactose intolerant.

3. 3
   verb

   To prevent something bad from happening.

   Careful planning helped us avoid further problems.

Common collocations

• avoid a question Verb + noun
• avoid an accident Verb + noun
• avoid jail Verb + noun
• avoid trouble Verb + noun
• avoid prison Verb + noun

From Middle English avoiden, from Anglo-Norman avoider, Old French esvuidier (“to empty out”), from es- + vuidier, from Vulgar Latin *vocitāre < Vulgar Latin *vocitum, ultimately related to Latin vacuus. Displaced native Old English forbūgan (literally “to bend away from”).

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