0 past simple and past participle of avoid
1 to stay away from someone or something:
I try to avoid supermarkets on Saturdays - they're always so busy.
Do you think Lukas is avoiding me? I haven't seen him all day.
[ + -ing verb ] I try to avoid going shopping on Saturdays.
The report studiously avoided any mention of the controversial plan.
The plane narrowly avoided disaster when one of the engines cut out on take-off.
I left the pub to avoid a fight (= prevent a fight from happening).
Unnecessary paperwork should be avoided (= prevented) at all costs.
If we set off early tomorrow morning we'll avoid most of the traffic.
We need to examine how an accident like this can be avoided in the future.
Footnotes should be avoided except as indicated above.
It may be avoided by replacing the vortex half-line by a narrow vortex cone.
Respiratory excursions substantially modify the velocity profile and should be avoided during standard recording.
