To evade means to avoid or escape from something, especially through cleverness or quick movement. When a rabbit evades a fox by darting into a thicket, it escapes danger by being fast and clever. When a soccer player evades a defender with a quick sidestep, she avoids being blocked.

People can also evade things that aren't physical. If someone asks you a direct question but you give a vague answer that doesn't really address what they asked, you're evading the question. When a politician evades difficult topics during a debate by changing the subject, people notice and may lose trust in them.

The word carries a sense of deliberate avoidance: you evade something on purpose, not by accident. A student who evades responsibility for a group project by making excuses is choosing not to face the consequences. Someone who evades paying taxes is breaking the law by finding sneaky ways around legal obligations.

Evasive describes someone or something that evades. An evasive answer dodges the real question. Evasive maneuvers help pilots avoid danger in the air. While physical evasion can be admirable (like evading a tackle in football), evading honest questions or responsibilities usually signals that someone isn't willing to face the truth directly.