# avoid

Pronunciation: say "uh-VOYD" /əˈvɔɪd/

## Verb

1. To try to prevent yourself from doing something, or to keep something from happening.
   - Simple: To try not to do something, or to stop it from happening.
   - _Good managers avoid blaming individuals for systemic failures._
   - _He rephrased the email to avoid sounding rude._
2. To keep away from someone or something, often on purpose or to stay out of harm's way.
   - Simple: To stay away from a person, place, or thing, often on purpose or to stay safe.
   - _Drivers avoid that intersection because the traffic lights often fail._
   - _He carefully avoided the wet paint on the railing._

## Verb

3. To get rid of something; to remove or dispose of it. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To get rid of something you do not want.
4. To leave or quit a place; to withdraw or come away from it. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To leave a place or go away from it.
5. To withdraw or depart; to retire and go away. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To go away or leave a place.
6. To make a space empty; to clear out the contents of a place. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To make a place empty by clearing everything out of it.
7. To emit or throw out something; to discharge or void it. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To send something out or push it out from inside.
8. To become void or vacant, as an office or benefice does. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To become empty or open, as a job or position does.

## Other meanings

- (verb) To make a contract or legal agreement void; to annul or cancel it.
- (verb) To defeat or evade a legal claim or instrument; to render it invalid.

## Origin

It comes from Middle English avoiden, via Anglo-Norman avoider and Old French esvuidier ('to empty out'), formed from es- plus vuidier. This traces back through Vulgar Latin and is ultimately related to Latin vacuus ('empty'). It replaced the native Old English forbūgan, literally 'to bend away from'.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/avoid (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).