# evade

/iˈveɪd/ (US) · /ɪvˈeɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/evade
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to escape physically

verb · CEFR B2

to escape from someone who is chasing you by moving quickly or being clever.

For teachers: to elude or escape from a pursuer or captor through physical dexterity or cunning.

- The thief managed to evade the police by running through a narrow alleyway.
- The fighter pilot performed a series of high-G maneuvers to evade the heat-seeking missiles locked onto his aircraft.

### 2. to avoid duties or questions

verb · CEFR B2

to avoid doing something you should do, like paying taxes or answering a difficult question.

For teachers: to avoid fulfilling a legal or moral obligation, or to avoid answering a direct question through sophistry or redirection.

- The politician tried to evade the reporter's question by talking about a different topic.
- The corporation was accused of using offshore accounts to evade millions of dollars in domestic corporate taxes.

Usage: Often used with 'taxes', 'responsibility', or 'questions'.

## Examples

- The thief managed to evade the police.
- The politician tried to evade the reporter's question by changing the subject to a different topic.
- The aircraft was equipped with advanced electronic countermeasures designed to evade radar detection while flying deep into contested airspace.

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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.