Avoiding: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when you are keeping away from something or someone, often to prevent a problem or a confrontation.

• She is avoiding him because they had a big argument.
• Avoiding junk food is crucial for a healthy diet.

Best used when someone is trying to escape or avoid something, often with a sense of deceit or trickery. It has a slightly more formal and negative connotation.

• He tried to evade paying taxes by hiding his income.
• The suspect managed to evade the police for weeks.

Applicable when someone deliberately avoids or rejects someone or something, often because of social ostracism or moral objection.

• After the scandal, he was shunned by his colleagues.
• She shuns publicity and prefers to live a quiet life.

Used when you suddenly change direction to avoid something, usually in a vehicle.

• She had to swerve to avoid hitting the dog
• The car swerved off the road

Use when there is a gradual or sudden change in direction, often unintentionally.

• The conversation veered towards a sensitive subject
• The plane veered off course

Use when you go around the edge of something, often to avoid it.

• He skirted the issue by changing the topic
• The path skirts around the lake

When someone avoids a responsibility or duty intentionally and frequently, usually in a disapproving tone.

• He always shirks his duties at work
• She accused him of shirking his parental responsibilities

When you want to quickly move to avoid being hit by something or to avoid something in a clever or tricky way.

• He managed to dodge the ball just in time
• She dodged the question during the interview

When you want to escape or get away from something in a clever or deceitful way, often used in legal or negative contexts.

• He was caught trying to evade taxes
• They managed to evade the police for weeks