Meaning & use

avoid

verb·Everyday

To keep away from something or someone, or to prevent something unwanted from happening.

See it in a sentence

She crossed the street to avoid walking past the noisy construction site.

Careful planning helped the team avoid several costly mistakes during the project.

A note on using this word

Avoid is followed by a gerund, not an infinitive: say 'avoid doing' rather than 'avoid to do.'

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

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