1. 从意思上看，可表示“避开”或“躲避”(keep oneself from)某人或某物；也可表示“防止”(prevent)某事的发生。如：
I think she is avoiding me.

我想她是在躲着我。Try to avoid accidents. 尽量防止发生事故。I avoided him as much as possible. 我尽量避开他。You should avoid such mistakes. 你应当避免这样的错误。Thus he avoided a heart attack. 就这样他避免了一次心脏病复发。The very wise avoid such a temptation. 真正聪明的人都避开这种诱惑。
I realized he was trying to avoid the topic. 我意识到他是在设法避开这个话题。
 
2. 从用法上看，其后可接名词或代词作宾语，也可接动名词作宾语，但是不能接不定式作宾语。如：

他避而不答我的问题。正：He avoided answering my questions. 误：He avoided to answer my questions. 要想不受影响是不可能的。要想不受影响是不可能的。正：It was impossible to avoid being affected. 误：It was impossible to avoid to be affected.