avoiding
- 01 A2 Elementary
v.staying away from a person, place, or thing on purpose.
v.the act of intentionally keeping away from a person, place, or situation. This gerund form functions as the object of a verb or preposition.
Simple“She has been avoiding her neighbor since their argument last week.”
In context“By avoiding the main highways during rush hour, the courier managed to deliver the documents ahead of the strict deadline.”
UsageAlways followed by a noun phrase or a gerund; never followed by an infinitive.
PitfallHe is avoiding to talk to me. He is avoiding talking to me.The verb 'avoid' must be followed by a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive (to + verb).
Antonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
v.trying to stop something bad or unpleasant from happening.
v.taking action to prevent an undesirable outcome or to refrain from an action.
Simple“Avoiding sugary snacks is a good way to stay healthy.”
In context“The pilot focused on avoiding a collision by maintaining a safe distance from the other aircraft in the busy corridor.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.the act of keeping away from something.
n.the action of shunning or staying clear of something; functions as a pure noun in formal or technical contexts.
Simple“His constant avoiding of the truth made it hard to trust him.”
In context“The systematic avoiding of tax obligations led to a significant investigation by the federal authorities.”
Teacher's tipWhile 'avoiding' can be a noun, 'avoidance' is much more common in formal writing.
Antonyms