avoid

[uh-void] / əˈvɔɪd /

VERB

refrain or stay away from; prevent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

avert bypass dodge escape evade fend off shun sidestep ward off

STRONG

abstain circumvent deflect desist ditch divert duck elude eschew flee hide jump obviate recoil shake shirk shy skip skirt weave withdraw

WEAK

circumlocute cold-shoulder fake out give the slip hold off keep clear lay low run for cover shake and bake shake off shrink from shuffle off skip out on skip town stay away stay out steer clear of step aside turn aside

Antonyms

STRONGEST

face meet

STRONG

allow help permit stay take on

WEAK

seek want

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He said he doesn’t want to name the exact locations yet to avoid tipping off officials who might try to stop them.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

It can provide electricity for only a few hours a day, and people avoid its flattened currency in favor of dollars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

To avoid such problems, tax preparers try to give clients a head start.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

Government guidance says the duty should "always be applied in a proportionate way" depending on the circumstances of the case and that organisations should avoid an "overly bureaucratic and burdensome approach".

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

The other planes in the formation veered sharply away from him to avoid another chomping.

From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness

Vocabulary lists containing avoid

"Brothers in Hope"

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"Do Family Meals Matter?" and "Fish Cheeks"

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Workshop 5, Part 1

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