vermeiden
/fɛɐ̯ˈmaɪ̯dən/
Definition
To stay away from something or stop something from happening; to avoid.
Example
Er versucht, Zucker so gut wie möglich zu vermeiden.
Show translation
He tries to avoid sugar as much as possible.
Etymology
From Middle High German *vermīden*, from Old High German *firmīdan*, combining the prefix *ver-* (indicating completion or away-ness) and *meiden* ("to avoid, shun"), which shares its root with English *mete* (in the sense of keeping away). The *ver-* prefix here intensifies the act of avoidance, giving it a deliberate, effortful quality.
Cultural note
Germans use *vermeiden* frequently in everyday practical discourse — avoiding traffic (*den Stau vermeiden*), avoiding conflict (*Konflikte vermeiden*), or avoiding waste (*Müll vermeiden*). Environmental messaging in Germany often centers on the phrase *Müll vermeiden* as the first step of the waste hierarchy, ahead of recycling. Don't confuse *vermeiden* with *verhindern* ("to prevent"), which implies actively stopping something external, whereas *vermeiden* focuses on personally steering clear of something.