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avoid Definition

avoid (ə vo̵id′)

transitive verb

  1. to make void; annul, invalidate, or quash (a plea, etc. in law)
  2. to keep away from; evade; shun to avoid crowds
  3. to keep from happening to avoid breakage
  4. Obsolete to void; empty
  5. Obsolete to go away from; leave

Etymology: ME avoiden < Anglo-Fr avoider < OFr esvuidier, to empty < es- (< L ex-), out + vuidier: see void

avoid Related Forms

avoid′·able adjective avoid′·ably adverb

avoid Synonyms

avoid

v.

keep away from, abstain from, flee from, shrink from, escape from, evade, shun, elude, malinger, dodge, give one the slip, draw back, hold off, edge off, go off, turn aside, recoil from, keep at arm's length, desist, withdraw, stay off, stay back, stay away, stay out of, shirk, let alone, keep out of the way, keep clear of, keep oneself aloof, hold oneself aloof from, keep at a respectful distance, let well enough alone, avert the eyes, keep in the background, keep one's distance, refrain from, bypass, circumvent, sidestep, skirt, give a wide berth, steer clear of*, lay off*, pass up*, shake off*, fight shy of*, duck*. *See syn. study at escape.

Antonyms face*, meet*, undertake.

avoid Law Definition

v

Slang

To annul, cancel, make void, or nullify for some legal reason a transaction to which one is a party or owes an obligation. For example, a child who is under the age of capacity may disavow a contract and avoid her obligations under it because she lacks the legal capacity to enter into a contract. See also annul, voidable, and ratify.

avoid Usage Examples

Object

  • disappointment: In order to avoid disappointment please book in advance.
  • confusion: These two issues need to be kept quite separate to avoid confusion.
  • duplication: It will be useful to discuss with ACPI the boundaries between the 2 groups, to avoid duplication of effort.
  • pitfall: In addition, they will show the employer how to avoid common legal pitfalls where employe benefit schemes are offered.
  • delay: Hints & Tips to help avoid delays All goods will require a signature.
  • conflict: Yellow buoys mark the area reserved for sail training to avoid conflict from other water users.

Preposition: at

cost: Even better, what about a " to don't " list of things to avoid at all costs?

Noun phrase with adjective complement

  • inherent: We'd be tempted to pay a little extra and avoid the lengthy delivery times inherent in buying an import.
  • due: Cattle also graze the hill in winter but are excluded from the TSS to avoid possible damage due to trampling.

Adjective complement

unnecessary: On platforms where native double buffering is supported in the AWT, the default value will be false to avoid unnecessary buffering in Swing.

Preposition: during

pregnancy: People with a serious allergy to hens ' eggs shouldn't be vaccinated and flu immunization is normally avoided during pregnancy.

Modifies a noun

disappointment: Order Now To Avoid Disappointment We believe the millenium crown may be the most popular coin issue in recent times.

Used with why or when

wherever: For many, a trip to the dentist is merely a painful inconvenience to be avoided wherever possible.

Present participle complement

  • eat: There are no exact rules but in earlier times people were encouraged to avoid eating meat, eggs and other rich foods.
  • fall: It's such a silly, romantic thing to do - who can avoid falling in love all over again?
  • pay: Leave your car at the hotel and avoid paying to drive into the London Congestion Zone.
  • commit: This requires that they prove they took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offense.
  • infringe: GardenWorld takes every reasonable care to avoid infringing copyright law.
  • lose: Doing this avoids losing data if the program is interrupted for any reason.

Preposition: like

plague: These are the stereotypical committee junkies and must be avoided like the plague.

Browse dictionary entries near avoid

  1. ‹ Avogadro's law
  2. ‹ Avogadro
  3. ‹ avocet
  4. ‹ avocation
  5. ‹ avocado
  6. ‹ avitaminosis
  7. ‹ Avison, Margaret
  8. ‹ avirulent
  9. ‹ avionics
  10. ‹ Ávila
  1. avoidance ›
  2. avoirdupois ›
  3. avoirdupois weight ›
  4. Avon ›
  5. avouch ›
  6. avow ›
  7. avowal ›
  8. avowed ›
  9. avulsion ›
  10. avuncular ›