sidestep

noun

1. A step to the side.
2. A physical motion or metaphorical act to avoid or dodge something.

verb

1. (intransitive)To step to the side.

   “I […] knocked and waited. […] He sidestepped, and I went in.”

   “Kilmarnock ought to have taken the lead on the stroke of half-time when Hefferman set up Kroca and, although the defender neatly sidestepped his marker, he fired straight into the chest of Enckelman.”

2. (figuratively, transitive)To avoid or dodge.

   “They sidestepped the issue.”

   “It was noticeable that he sidestepped questions about continuation south of Crewe, on the grounds that he must await the report of Sir Ivan Stedeford's Advisory Group.”

   “Adams repeatedly sidestepped questions about whether the Justice Department is taking specific steps to seize assets belonging to Putin but suggested that prosecutors have mapped out how the Russian President and wealthy kleptocrats are attempting to hide their money.”