avoid
B1Neutral (used in formal, informal, spoken and written contexts)
Definition
Meaning
To keep away from or stop oneself from doing something; to prevent something from happening.
To deliberately stay away from someone or something; to not do something that might cause problems; to prevent a particular situation or outcome.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies intentionality and often a sense of prevention or caution. Can refer to physical avoidance (a place, person) or abstract avoidance (a topic, responsibility).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Minor potential differences in typical collocates or phrasing in idiomatic expressions.
Connotations
Equally neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
avoid + noun/pronounavoid + -ing form (gerund)avoid + direct objectVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “avoid someone/something like the plague”
- “avoid the subject”
- “an accident waiting to happen (thing to be avoided)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in risk management ('avoid liabilities'), project planning ('avoid delays'), and HR ('avoid conflict').
Academic
Used in methodologies ('avoid bias'), discussions ('avoid fallacies'), and conclusions ('avoid overgeneralisation').
Everyday
Common for practical arrangements ('avoid the motorway'), social situations ('avoid awkward topics'), and health ('avoid sugary drinks').
Technical
Used in computing ('avoid infinite loops'), engineering ('avoid structural stress'), and medicine ('avoid allergens').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He took a diversion to avoid the roadworks on the A1.
- You should really avoid mentioning the wedding—it's a sore point.
- The cyclist swerved to avoid the pothole.
American English
- She changed her route to avoid the construction on I-95.
- Try to avoid bringing up politics at dinner.
- The driver slammed on the brakes to avoid a collision.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I avoid coffee after 5 PM.
- Avoid the city centre during the rush hour.
- The company wants to avoid any negative publicity.
- He's been avoiding his manager since the argument.
- The contract was drafted with great care to avoid potential legal ambiguities.
- She employs subtle diplomatic language to avoid causing offence.
- The researcher meticulously controlled for confounding variables to avoid spurious correlations.
- The speaker artfully avoided being pinned down on any contentious policy details.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a VOID (an empty space). To AVOID something is to make a void, an empty space, between you and the thing you don't want.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBSTACLE/THREAT AS SOMETHING TO BE CIRCUMNAVIGATED (e.g., 'navigate around a problem', 'steer clear of trouble').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'избегать' (упускать возможность). 'Avoid' всегда предполагает сознательное усилие, а не случайность.
- В конструкции 'avoid doing' используется герундий (-ing), а не инфинитив.
Common Mistakes
- Using infinitive instead of gerund (INCORRECT: 'I avoid to go' / CORRECT: 'I avoid going').
- Confusing 'avoid' with 'prevent' ('avoid' = not let yourself be affected; 'prevent' = stop something from happening).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'avoid' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Avoid' means to keep yourself away from something bad or to stop yourself from doing something. 'Prevent' means to stop something from happening altogether. You avoid a cold by washing your hands; a vaccine helps prevent it.
No. The verb 'avoid' must be followed by a noun or a gerund (the -ing form of a verb). Example: 'I avoid eating' (correct), not 'I avoid to eat' (incorrect).
It is a neutral word and is perfectly appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, from academic papers to everyday conversation.
'Eschew' is a strong, formal synonym, often used for completely rejecting a principle or behaviour (e.g., 'He eschews modern technology').