Avoid means to keep away from something or someone, or to prevent something from happening. There are many synonyms for the word "avoid," such as evade, shun, dodge, elude, escape, sidestep, steer clear of, circumvent, bypass, and eschew. Evade usually implies a deliberate attempt to get out of or away from something, while dodge suggests quick or sudden movements to avoid being hit or caught. Elude involves evading that which is pursuing or trying to capture you. To eschew is to simply turn away from or reject something completely. No matter which word is chosen, the meaning is the same: staying away from something or preventing it from happening.