What does eschew mean?
Word: Eschew
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Eschew means to keep away from something on purpose, often because of your principles.
Synonyms: avoid, give up
How do you spell eschew?
Syllables: es - chew
Tricky part: Most pupils know the sound but not the look of the end. They write oo or ue for the long final vowel, when the last two letters are ew.
Watch out for: eschoo, eschue
Memory tip: Someone at a party refuses to chew a toffee. The verb for what they will not do gives you the ending.
Eschew in a sentence
Example 1: Our family eschews plastic bags and carries cloth ones to the market.
Example 2: The author eschews long words and writes in a plain, friendly style.
Example 3: Many good cricketers eschew risky shots early in an innings.
Fun Fact
It came through an Old French verb and is a distant cousin of the adjective shy, which fits: if you eschew something, you shy away from it.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
esschew
a) h
b) w
c) c
d) s
Show answer
d) s. A lone s comes before the ch; the sound never needs two.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters to find the word that fits the sentence:
Runners preparing for the state meet usually whcese sugary drinks and choose water.
a) exceed
b) eschew
c) escape
d) esteem
Show answer
b) eschew. The w decides it.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word eschew as used in the sentence:
Anil likes to eschew fried snacks in the weeks before a big race.
a) spurn
b) shun
c) forgo
d) embrace
Show answer
d) embrace. Welcoming something gladly is the reverse of staying away from it.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. renownce 2. abstane 3. eschew 4. relinkwish
a) to hold back from casting your vote
b) to say formally you no longer want something
c) to let go of a right or a position
d) to steer clear of something deliberately
Show answer
d) to steer clear of something deliberately. Abstain finishes in ain, renounce has ou before the n, and relinquish has qu in it.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A writer who eschews jargon will probably produce what?
a) a text that ordinary readers can follow
b) a text crowded with technical terms
c) a text written in a secret code
d) a text meant only for scientists
Show answer
a) a text that ordinary readers can follow
2. Which habit shows a person eschewing luxury?
a) booking the finest hotels on holiday
b) dining at costly restaurants weekly
c) buying a bigger car every year
d) using the same old bicycle for years
Show answer
d) using the same old bicycle for years
