Eschew
/ɪsˈtʃuː/
verbC2
Definition
To eschew something means to choose not to do it or not to use it, often because it is seen as wrong, harmful, or not good. People eschew bad habits, unhealthy food, or things they want to avoid for personal or moral reasons.
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See It in Action
To deliberately avoid or stay away from something
- •She eschews all processed foods to keep healthy.
- •Many people eschew smoking because of health risks.
- •He eschewed the noisy city life for a quiet village.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "eschew" like "avoid," but more formal and stronger—it is a clear, careful choice to stay away
- ✓Picture someone stepping back carefully from a dangerous path or a bad smell to keep safe and healthy
- ✓It's the feeling when you decide not to eat sweets because you want to be healthy, even if you like them
- ✓Sounds like "es-CHOO" → imagine sneezing ("achoo") and quickly moving away from something bad that causes the sneeze
- ✓In stories, heroes might eschew evil or bad choices to stay good and strong
- ✓NOT like "ignore" (which means not paying attention), "eschew" means actively staying away or refusing something
- ✓NOT like "avoid" (which is common and simple), "eschew" is more formal and shows a strong, clear decision
- ✓NOT like "reject" (which means saying no), "eschew" means not even going near or using something
Try Other Words
- •Avoid: to stay away from something (Use when the situation is casual or everyday)
- •Shun: to deliberately stay away from something or someone (Use when avoiding for social or moral reasons)
- •Reject: to refuse to accept or use something (Use when clearly saying no to something)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "es-" (variant of ex-, meaning "out") + "chew" (from Old French "eschiver," meaning to avoid or escape)
- •Etymology: From Old French "eschiver," from Late Latin "excavare," meaning to avoid or dodge
- •Historical development: Entered English in the 15th century with the meaning to avoid or keep away from something
- •Modern usage: Used mainly in formal writing or speech to describe careful avoidance of bad or unwanted things
Reflect & Connect
•Why might someone choose to eschew certain habits or foods even if they like them?
•How does using a formal word like "eschew" change the way we talk about avoiding things compared to simpler words?
Fill in the blanks
1.She decided to eschew ___ habits like smoking and drinking to improve her health.
2.People often eschew ___ food because it can cause illness or weight gain.
3.Unlike simply ignoring a problem, to eschew it means to ___ it completely.
4.The artist eschewed ___ styles to create something new and original.
5.He eschewed social media ___ to focus on his studies.
6.When you eschew something, it shows a ___ choice, not just a quick reaction.
7.They eschewed the noisy party ___ preferring a quiet evening at home.