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Definition of "avoid" []

  • To stay clear of; shun. See Synonyms at escape. (verb-transitive)
  • To keep from happening: avoid illness with rest and a balanced diet. (verb-transitive)
  • Law To annul or make void; invalidate. (verb-transitive)
  • Obsolete To void or expel. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "avoid" in a sentence
  • ""The one thing we want to avoid is having a single position negatively impact the entire portfolio," he said."
  • "The real trap to avoid is the one where he listens to rightwing goons and their fairytales."
  • "One of the types I try to avoid is the "married but playful" kind: the ones that are stepping out on their spouses to indulge their preferences on the down-low."