Words / C1

i-VAYD/ɪˈveɪd/

To evade is to avoid something you should face: evade a question, evade tax, evade capture. Avoid is everyday and not always dishonest; dodge is informal; shirk is avoiding duty. Evasion is the noun (tax evasion). Elusive is the adjective for something hard to catch. In speech, dodge or avoid answering is enough. Evade often implies slipping out of an obligation. Do not confuse it with invade (enter by force).

Meaning

To avoid something you should face, such as a question or a tax.

Examples

• “He evaded the question.”
• “He evaded the question with a joke, then another joke.”
• “Tax evasion is a crime; tax avoidance, in the legal sense, is a different, colder word.”

Good to know

Avoid facing a duty, question, or capture. Noun: evasion. Everyday: dodge / avoid answering. Often dishonest or slippery. Contrast: avoid (neutral); invade.

Near in meaning

dodge

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