# avoiding

/əˈvɔɪdɪŋ/ (US) · /ɐvˈɔɪdɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/avoiding
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. staying away from

verb · CEFR A2

staying away from a person, place, or thing on purpose.

For teachers: the act of intentionally keeping away from a person, place, or situation. This gerund form functions as the object of a verb or preposition.

- She has been avoiding her neighbor since their argument last week.
- By avoiding the main highways during rush hour, the courier managed to deliver the documents ahead of the strict deadline.

Usage: Always followed by a noun phrase or a gerund; never followed by an infinitive.

### 2. preventing something

verb · CEFR B1

trying to stop something bad or unpleasant from happening.

For teachers: taking action to prevent an undesirable outcome or to refrain from an action.

- Avoiding sugary snacks is a good way to stay healthy.
- The pilot focused on avoiding a collision by maintaining a safe distance from the other aircraft in the busy corridor.

### 3. the act of avoidance

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of keeping away from something.

For teachers: the action of shunning or staying clear of something; functions as a pure noun in formal or technical contexts.

- His constant avoiding of the truth made it hard to trust him.
- The systematic avoiding of tax obligations led to a significant investigation by the federal authorities.

Teaching tip: While 'avoiding' can be a noun, 'avoidance' is much more common in formal writing.

## Examples

- She is avoiding her boss today.
- Many drivers are avoiding the main highway this morning because of the heavy construction work.
- By avoiding direct confrontation and instead focusing on shared goals, the mediator successfully guided both parties toward a compromise that had previously seemed impossible.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.