evitar

Evitar is a Spanish verb that means to avoid, to prevent, or to refrain from doing something. It is used transitively with a direct object, as in evitar un problema, or with an infinitive, as in evitar hacer algo. It can also introduce a subordinate clause with que and the subjunctive, as in evitar que ocurra algo.

Etymology and form: Evitar comes from Latin evitare, formed from ex- (out) and vita (life). It is a regular -ar verb, so its conjugation follows the standard pattern for first-conjugation verbs. The present indicative forms are evito, evitas, evita, evitamos, evitan. The preterite is evité, evitaste, evitó, evitamos, evitaron; the imperfect is evitaba, evitabas, evitaba, evitábamos, evitaban. The future is evitaré, evitarás, evitará, evitaremos, evitarán. The present subjunctive forms are evite, evites, evite, evitemos, eviten; the imperfect subjunctive forms are evitara or evitase. The gerund is evitando and the past participle is evitado. The imperative forms include evita (tú), evite (usted), evitemos (nosotros), and eviten (ustedes).

Usage notes: Evitar commonly governs a direct object or an infinitive clause (evitar hacer algo) and can be followed by de, as in evitar dudas de algo, though more often it appears with a direct object. With clauses, it uses the subjunctive: evitar que ocurra, evitar que nunca llegue a ocurrir. It is frequently used in safety, health, and risk contexts (evitar accidentes, evitar contagios). Synonyms include eludir, esquivar, rehuir, and prevenir; antonyms include afrontar and enfrentar.

See also: avoidable, inevitable (opposites in meaning), evitarse (reflexive usage in some contexts).