avoid verb
1 prevent sth
ADV. altogether It is sometimes impossible to avoid conflict altogether. | narrowly They narrowly avoided defeat in the semi-final. | at all costs Getting involved in a court case is something to be avoided at all costs.
VERB + AVOID be anxious to, want to, wish to They are anxious to avoid any further misunderstandings. | attempt to, try to | be careful to, take care to He was careful to avoid any sentimentality in his speech. | help (to) | be able to, manage to | be possible to | be difficult to, be impossible to
PHRASES an attempt/effort to avoid sth He failed in his attempt to avoid having to pay.
2 keep away from sb
ADV. carefully, deliberately, studiously The two men carefully avoided one another.
VERB + AVOID try to
3 not hit sb/sth when driving
ADV. narrowly He braked hard and narrowly avoided a parked van.
VERB + AVOID brake to | swerve to She swerved to avoid a cyclist.
You can also check other dicts: avoid (English, 中文解释 ), wordnet sense, Collins Definition