Definition

1. Verb:
   • To stay away from or keep clear of something or someone: To deliberately not go near, interact with, or engage with a person, place, thing, or activity, often to prevent trouble, danger, or an unwanted outcome.
   • To prevent something from happening: To take action so that a particular event or situation does not occur.
   • To refrain from doing something: To choose not to do a particular action.

Usage and Examples

• To stay away from someone/something:
  • She avoids her former colleagues after the disagreement.
  • You should avoid that area of town at night.
• To prevent something from happening:
  • He swerved to avoid an accident.
  • Careful planning can help avoid problems later.
• To refrain from an action:
  • I am trying to avoid eating sugar.
  • He avoided answering the direct question.

Advanced Usage

• "Avoid like the plague": To stay completely away from someone or something because they are very unpleasant or dangerous.
  • After he betrayed my trust, I avoid him like the plague.
• "Avoid at all costs": To try extremely hard to prevent something, no matter what is required.
  • A diplomatic incident must be avoided at all costs.

Variants and Related Words

• Avoidable (adjective): Able to be avoided or prevented.
  • Many childhood diseases are now avoidable.
• Avoidance (noun): The action of keeping away from or not doing something.
  • Risk avoidance is a key part of their safety policy.
• Unavoidable (adjective): Not able to be avoided or prevented.
  • Some traffic delays are unavoidable.

Synonyms

• Evade: To escape or avoid, especially by cleverness or trickery.
• Shun: To persistently avoid, ignore, or reject.
• Avert: To turn away or prevent (something bad or dangerous).
• Elude: To avoid or escape from (a danger, enemy, or pursuer), typically in a skillful or cunning way.

Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Avoid" itself is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. The meaning is typically contained in the single verb.)

Related Idioms

• Steer clear of: To avoid someone or something that seems unpleasant, risky, or dangerous.
  • You should steer clear of that investment scheme; it sounds suspicious.

Verb

1. declare invalid
   • The contract was annulled
   • void a plea
2. refrain from certain foods or beverages
   • I keep off drugs
   • During Ramadan, Muslims avoid tobacco during the day
3. refrain from doing something
   • She refrains from calling her therapist too often
   • He should avoid publishing his wife's memories
4. prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
   • Let's avoid a confrontation
   • head off a confrontation
   • avert a strike
5. stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
   • Her former friends now avoid her