avoided - Master This Word
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avoided Word Meanings
- to stay away from something
- to prevent something from happening
- to evade or escape
avoided Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
avoided Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/əˈvɔɪd/
US
/əˈvɔɪd/
avoided Word Etymology
avoid = a- (away) + void (empty); From Latin 'avodere' → Old French 'evitier' → English. Picture someone stepping away from an empty space to avoid a collision.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I lift a foot and move to the side, a small shift in the crowded street. I hold my balance and set my shoulders, steering to avoid an awkward collision. The effort feels focused, like a quiet drill of control that lasts only a moment. This tiny routine teaches me how I keep distance in real life, turning awareness into action.
Real Context
To avoid something means to stay away from it or to prevent it from happening. In everyday use, you avoid actions, situations, or risks by planning ahead or choosing an alternate path. You can say you avoid a mistake by double-checking your work, or you avoid traffic by leaving earlier. It is common to talk about avoiding negative outcomes rather than avoiding people; however, you can also avoid someone in a social sense, though that phrasing can sound deliberate. In grammar, avoid is followed by -ing or by a noun: avoid smoking, avoid risks. The concept emphasizes intention and control over outcomes, rather than simply reacting to events.
Usage Reminders
- - Use avoid with -ing form or with a noun: avoid doing something, avoid risks
- - Distinguish avoid from prevent: avoid is about staying away, prevent is about stopping an outcome
- - Common collocations: avoid a mistake, avoid a collision, avoid contact
- - You can avoid someone, but this can sound deliberate in social contexts
- - If unsure, rephrase to say you plan ahead to stay safe
Common Misconceptions
- Avoid means never do something you enjoy.
- Avoid is the same as stop or prevent.
- You can only avoid people, not situations.
- Avoiding a person is always negative.
- Avoiding mistakes means never making errors.
Thinking Differences
English tends to emphasize proactive planning and explicit verbs for staying away from risks; learners often mix avoid with stop or prevent. The focus is on agency and outcome control, not simply reacting. Common pitfall: avoiding people sounds harsh; reframe as staying away from risky interactions.
Learning Tips
- Hear and say avoid often with -ing forms
- Notice avoid + noun vs avoid + verb-ing
- Practice with real-life risk scenarios
- Compare with prevent and stop to feel nuance
- Use paraphrase when avoiding people seems harsh
- Read aloud to master natural collocations
Related Listening
🌱 Lite (Beginner)
🔥 Advanced
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