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Added 9 October 2026

avoid

/əˈvɔɪd/ verb

In Latin: desum Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about avoid at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something.
Her former friends now avoid her
Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening.
Let's avoid a confrontation
Refrain from doing something.
She refrains from calling her therapist too often

Origin

From Middle English avoiden, from Anglo-Norman avoider, Old French esvuidier (“to empty out”), from es- + vuidier, from Vulgar Latin *vocitāre < Vulgar Latin *vocitum, ultimately related to Latin vacuus. Displaced native Old English forbūgan (literally “to bend away from”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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