# avoid

> English word · Verb · IPA /əˈvɔɪd/ · frequency rank #1,416

## Definitions
1. To try not to meet or communicate with (a person); to shun.
2. To stay out of the way of (something harmful).
3. To keep away from; to keep clear of; to stay away from.
4. To try not to do something or to have something happen.
5. To make empty; to clear.
6. To make void, to annul; to refute (especially a contract).
7. To defeat or evade; to invalidate.
8. To emit or throw out; to void.
9. To leave, evacuate; to leave as empty, to withdraw or come away from.
10. To get rid of.
11. To retire; to withdraw, depart, go away.
12. To become void or vacant.

## Etymology
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”).

## Easily confused with
- **Avon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/avoid-vs-avon)
- **Avril** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/avoid-vs-avril)
- **avoids** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/avoid-vs-avoids)
- **avowed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/avoid-vs-avowed)
- **avoided** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/avoid-vs-avoided)
- **aid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aid-vs-avoid)
- **Avi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/avi-vs-avoid)
- **acid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/acid-vs-avoid)
- **amid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/amid-vs-avoid)
- **avid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/avid-vs-avoid)
- **arid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/arid-vs-avoid)
- **avis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/avis-vs-avoid)
- **avail** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/avail-vs-avoid)
- **aloud** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aloud-vs-avoid)
- **ahold** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahold-vs-avoid)

## Common misspellings (6)
`aovid`, `aviod`, `avodi`, `avoidd`, `avvoid`, `vaoid`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/avoid