You searched for: “avoid
avoid (verb), avoids; avoided; avoiding
1. To reject, to shun, to stay away: Because of her sensitive skin, Geraldine tries to avoid sitting in the sun.
2. To keep away from, to stay out of the way of someone or something: Lauren's former husband now avoids her whenever they happen to be in the same place.

Margery, a high school student, manages to avoid doing the dishes by claiming she has to do her homework.

3. To prevent the occurrence of; to stop from happening: If at all possible, people should avoid repeating the same mistakes when investing their money in those companies that are unable to maintain reasonable profits.
4. To refrain or to stop doing something: Nations should try to avoid starting so many wars with each other.
5. To resist, to turn down, or to deliberately stay away from certain foods or beverages: According to the doctor during Carol's diet, she should avoid eating solid food, however liquids would be all right.
This entry is located in the following units: a-, ab-, abs- (page 13) void (page 1)
avoid, devoid
avoid (uh VOID) (verb)
1. To keep something from happening: Norbert tried very hard to avoid falling down on the icy sidewalk.
2. To stay clear of or away from someone or something: Darius took a detour onto another street to avoid the heavy traffic.
3. To keep from doing something or participating in something: Anton promised that he won't be late; that is, if he can avoid it.
devoid (di VOID) (adjective)
Completely lacking; destitute or empty: The landscape in this area seems to be devoid of any life.

When Freda took the detour to avoid the downtown traffic congestion, she had no idea that she would see a city so devoid of green space.

(a rich Chinese who wants to avoid the spotlight)
(Latin: to shun, to avoid)
(avoid redundancies or excessive repetitiousness by not using unnecessary repetitions and superfluous words or more word usages than is needed, desired, or required)
(a belief that teaches people to spend the best parts of their lives preparing to avoid the worst that could come after this life)
(learn how to avoid being a malapropist)