to circumvent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to circumvent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of finding a way around an obstacle or avoiding a rule or restriction. Example: "The company sought to circumvent the regulations by implementing alternative practices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Too many parked cars to circumvent.

The New York Times

Rumsfeld evidently intended to circumvent that process.

The New Yorker

Boxee has found ways to circumvent this.

The New York Times - Tech

"There are ways to circumvent this.

The New York Times

Some have proposed reforms to circumvent paralysis.

The New York Times

Scientists have started to circumvent those problems.

The New York Times - Health

"Nobody's trying to circumvent anything," he said.

The New York Times

Attempting to circumvent the City Planning Department?

The New York Times

Everyone involved was coming up with ways to circumvent that.

The Guardian

"It is just a way to circumvent the rules".

The New York Times

It was distributed on DVDs to circumvent Cuba's censors.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to circumvent" when you want to emphasize finding a way around a rule, law, or obstacle. It suggests a deliberate action to avoid something restrictive or challenging.

Common error

Avoid using "to circumvent from". The correct usage is "to circumvent" followed directly by the thing being avoided, without an intervening preposition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to circumvent" functions as an infinitive expressing purpose or intent. It indicates the aim of avoiding or bypassing something, often a rule, law, or obstacle. Ludwig shows examples of this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to circumvent" is a common and grammatically sound way to express the intention to avoid or bypass a rule, law, or obstacle. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and demonstrates its presence across various contexts including news, science, and formal business settings. While alternatives like "to bypass" or "to avoid" exist, "to circumvent" carries a nuance of strategic maneuvering. Remember to use it with a direct object, avoiding unnecessary prepositions, to ensure clarity and precision in your writing. Its prevalence in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability and acceptance in formal discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to bypass

Implies a direct route around something, often without confrontation.

to evade

Suggests skillful or cunning avoidance, often of something negative or unwanted.

to avoid

A general term for keeping away from something.

to sidestep

Indicates moving to the side to avoid an obstacle, often in a figurative sense.

to get around

An informal way to say to overcome or find a solution to a problem.

to skirt around

Means to avoid dealing directly with an issue or topic.

to dodge

Implies a quick, evasive movement to avoid something.

to find a workaround

Suggests devising a method to overcome a specific obstacle or limitation.

to navigate around

Indicates finding a path through or around something complex or challenging.

to steer clear of

Implies deliberately avoiding something that could be problematic or dangerous.

FAQs

How can I use "to circumvent" in a sentence?

You can use "to circumvent" to describe avoiding a rule, law, or obstacle. For example, "They tried to circumvent the regulations".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "to circumvent"?

Alternatives include "to bypass", "to evade", or "to avoid", depending on the specific context.

Is it more formal to say "to circumvent" or "to get around"?

"To circumvent" is generally more formal than "to get around". Use "to circumvent" in professional or academic writing.

What's the difference between "to circumvent" and "to violate" a rule?

"To circumvent" means to avoid or bypass a rule without technically breaking it, while "to violate" means to directly break or disregard a rule.