escape or avoid (someone or something), especially by guile or trickery:friends helped him to evade capture for a time (of an abstract thing) elude (someone):sleep still evaded her avoid giving a direct answer to (a question):he denied evading the question avoid dealing with or accepting (something unpleasant or morally or legally required):he never sought to evade responsibility for his actions escape paying (tax or duty), especially by illegitimate presentation of one’s finances: she was sentenced on three counts of conspiracy to evade taxes act contrary to the intention of (a law or rule), especially while complying with its letter: suppliers can evade or manipulate regulations