Avoid

Pronunciation: /əˈvɔɪd/

Definitions of avoid

verb to keep away from; to prevent from happening

Example Sentences

A1 I avoid eating meat because I am a vegetarian.

A2 She avoids going to the dentist because she is afraid of needles.

B1 To avoid getting lost, make sure to bring a map with you.

B2 In order to avoid conflicts, it is important to communicate effectively.

C1 He avoids discussing politics at family gatherings to prevent arguments.

C2 The company implemented new policies to avoid potential legal issues in the future.

Examples of avoid in a Sentence

formal It is advisable to avoid making any hasty decisions without proper consideration.

informal I try to avoid eating fast food as much as possible.

slang I always steer clear of drama at school to avoid unnecessary trouble.

figurative She tried to avoid facing her fears, but eventually had to confront them.

Grammatical Forms of avoid

• past tense: avoided
• plural: avoids
• comparative: more avoidable
• superlative: most avoidable
• present tense: avoids
• future tense: will avoid
• perfect tense: have avoided
• continuous tense: is avoiding
• singular: avoids
• positive degree: avoid
• infinitive: to avoid
• gerund: avoiding
• participle: avoided

Origin and Evolution of avoid

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old French

Story behind the word: The word 'avoid' originated from the Old French term 'esvuider' which meant 'to empty out' or 'to clear out'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the meaning of 'avoid' shifted from 'to empty out' to 'to keep away from' or 'to shun'. The word has evolved to encompass the idea of preventing or steering clear of something undesirable.