avoid
v.v. to stay away from someone or something. You do this when you want to prevent something bad from happening or when you do not want to meet someone.
v. to keep away from or prevent the occurrence of something through deliberate effort. Transitive — requires a direct object, which can be a noun phrase or a gerund.
You should avoid sugary drinks if you want to be healthy.
Drivers are advised to avoid the city center this afternoon due to heavy road construction.
To minimize legal liability, the corporation must avoid any actions that could be interpreted as a conflict of interest during the merger negotiations.
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”).
The verb is transitive. When followed by another action, it takes the -ing form (gerund) rather than the infinitive.
I tried to avoid to hit the dogI tried to avoid hitting the dogAvoid is followed by a gerund (-ing), not a 'to' infinitive.