to evade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to evade" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of avoiding or escaping from something, such as a question, responsibility, or situation. Example: "He tried to evade the question by changing the subject."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

To evade these pressures, Morris turns inward.

The New York Times - Books

Each attempt to evade detection — the….

The New Yorker

But the requirement is easy to evade.

The Economist

Pathogens evolve to evade the evasions.

The Economist

The cause continues to evade easy explanation.

The New York Times

I was going to evade tax".

The Guardian - Money

"It's a trap almost impossible to evade.

The New York Times

K.C. was forever trying to evade the police.

The New York Times - Magazine

"The eruv is a device to evade them".

The New York Times

"And Al Qaeda members have learned how to evade intercepts.

The New York Times - Books

He asked if he was trying to evade congressional scrutiny.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to evade", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being avoided and the method of avoidance. For example, "The company restructured its finances to evade taxes" is clearer than "The company restructured its finances to evade."

Common error

While "to evade" is generally acceptable in most contexts, consider whether a more neutral term like "to avoid" is more appropriate for highly formal or sensitive situations. Using "to evade" might suggest intentional wrongdoing where it isn't the case.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to evade" functions as an infinitive, typically used to express purpose or intention. It combines the preposition "to" with the verb "evade", indicating the aim of avoiding something, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to evade" is a versatile infinitive used to express the purpose of avoiding something, often through cunning or strategic means. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific writing. While "to evade" is generally acceptable, considering the level of formality is important; in highly formal contexts, more neutral terms like "to avoid" may be more appropriate. Common alternatives include "to elude", "to circumvent" and "to dodge", each carrying unique nuances. Remember to clarify the context when using "to evade" to ensure clarity and avoid any unintended suggestion of wrongdoing. Overall, understanding the nuances of "to evade" enhances the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to avoid

This is a general term for keeping away from something, without necessarily implying cunning or strategy.

to elude

This suggests escaping from something in a skillful or cunning way, often something that is pursuing or trying to catch you.

to circumvent

This implies finding a way around an obstacle or rule, often through clever or strategic means.

to sidestep

This alternative suggests avoiding a direct confrontation or difficult issue by moving to the side.

to dodge

This suggests a quick, evasive movement to avoid something, often a physical object or a direct question.

to duck

This implies a quick and sudden movement to avoid something, often to avoid being hit.

to skirt around

This implies avoiding the central point of a topic or problem, often by talking about related but less important things.

to steer clear of

This suggests intentionally avoiding something or someone to prevent problems.

to escape

This implies breaking free from confinement or danger.

to hedge

This implies limiting potential losses or failure by avoiding to state clearly or take a definite position.

FAQs

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

Use "to evade" when describing the act of avoiding or escaping something, often through skill or cleverness. For instance, "The suspect attempted "to evade" police capture by fleeing into the woods."

What are some alternatives to "to evade"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "to avoid", "to elude", "to circumvent", or "to dodge". Each carries slightly different nuances of meaning.

Is it better to say "evade" or "avoid"?

"Evade" often implies a skillful or cunning effort to escape or avoid something, while "avoid" is a more general term. Use "evade" when you want to emphasize the cleverness or strategy involved in the act of avoidance. Otherwise, "to avoid" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "to evade" and "to shirk"?

"To evade" suggests actively avoiding something, sometimes cleverly. "To shirk", on the other hand, specifically means to neglect or avoid a responsibility or duty. For example, you might "to evade" capture, but you "to shirk" your responsibilities.