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