evade

Universal Words verb 1 to escape from sb/sth or avoid meeting sb: [VN] For two weeks they evaded the press. * He managed to evade capture. [also V-ing] 2 to find a way of not doing sth, especially sth that legally or morally you should do: [VN] to evade payment of taxes * She is trying to evade all responsibility for her behaviour. * He never sought to evade his responsibilities. [also V-ing] 3 to avoid dealing with or talking about sth: [VN] Come on, don't you think you're evading the issue? * [V-ing] to evade answering a question 4 [VN] (formal) to not come or happen to sb SYNELUDE: The answer evaded him (= he could not think of it). seealsoEVASION, EVASIVE