Avoid Meaning
Avoid Definition & Usage
To deliberately stay away from or prevent something from happening by taking steps to avoid it.
Examples
- "She avoided the crowded streets by taking a different route."
- "He tried to avoid eye contact during the awkward meeting."
- "I avoid fast food because I’m trying to eat healthier."
- "They avoided the area due to the ongoing construction work."
- "The dog seemed to avoid the park after the incident."
To take action to prevent something undesirable or harmful from happening.
Examples
- "She took precautions to avoid any accidents during the experiment."
- "By studying hard, he hoped to avoid failing the test."
- "The company implemented new policies to avoid financial loss."
- "He avoided making the same mistake by learning from his previous experiences."
- "The driver swerved to avoid hitting the animal crossing the road."
To try to evade or escape something, usually out of a desire to avoid discomfort or something unpleasant.
Examples
- "He avoided answering the tough question during the interview."
- "She avoided confronting her colleague about the issue."
- "They avoided talking about politics during the dinner party."
- "I always avoid conflict when I can help it."
- "He tried to avoid the truth, but it was too obvious."
Cultural Context
'Avoid' has been part of the English language since the 14th century, originating from Old French and Latin. It has evolved to cover various types of intentional evasion, from physical avoidance to social and emotional distancing. In contemporary usage, the word often carries connotations of safety, prevention, or discomfort.
The Avoidance Game
Story
The Avoidance Game
In a small town nestled between rolling hills, two friends, Laura and Sarah, were known for their skill at avoiding uncomfortable situations. It wasn’t that they disliked socializing; on the contrary, they loved meeting new people. However, they were experts in sidestepping anything that might make them feel uneasy. One afternoon, they decided to visit the local café, but as they entered, they spotted an old acquaintance, Ben, sitting alone at a table. Ben had a way of talking about his recent break-up that always made the conversation feel awkward. Laura hesitated. She knew Ben would want to talk about his ex, and neither she nor Sarah were in the mood for that. 'I think we should avoid sitting near him,' Laura whispered to Sarah, 'I just don’t feel like hearing about his breakup today.' Sarah nodded, understanding her friend’s sentiment. They walked to the back of the café, where they could enjoy their coffee without engaging in the awkward conversation they were both dreading. However, when they were halfway to their table, Ben noticed them and waved enthusiastically. Sarah sighed. There was no avoiding the conversation now. They both smiled weakly and walked over. To their surprise, Ben didn’t bring up the breakup at all. Instead, he started talking about a new book he was reading, which turned out to be far more interesting. Laura and Sarah realized that sometimes avoiding a situation doesn’t always turn out the way you expect. Sometimes, what you avoid can become the very thing you need to face in order to find something better. By the end of their meeting, they laughed at how they had tried so hard to avoid an awkward conversation, only to end up having a pleasant one instead. 'Maybe we shouldn’t avoid things so much,' Laura said, sipping her coffee. 'Sometimes, avoiding them just makes it worse.' 'Yeah,' Sarah agreed, 'I think we need to stop playing the avoidance game.'
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