elope
Americanverb (used without object)
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to run off secretly to be married, usually without the consent or knowledge of one's parents or family.
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to get married in a small ceremony with few or no guests and often without a reception.
After the stress of planning my first wedding, I decided that this time I'd just elope.
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to run away with a lover.
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to leave without permission or notification; escape.
At age 21, the apprentice eloped from his master.
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(of a patient or person in care) to leave a hospital, care facility, or safe area independently without notifying anyone.
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verb
Other Word Forms
- elopement noun
- eloper noun
- uneloped adjective
- uneloping adjective
Etymology
Origin of elope
First recorded in 1590–1600; Middle English alopen (unrecorded) “to run away” (whence Anglo-French aloper ); see a- 3 ( def. ), lope ( def. )
Explanation
When you elope, you run away with the person you love. Usually, you elope to get married without anyone knowing in advance. The word elope probably originated with the Middle Dutch word lopen, meaning "run away." Couples who elope typically don't seek anyone's permission before running off to get married, not even their parents. Often, that's the whole point of wanting to elope: you can avoid dealing with anyone who might opt to "speak now" instead "holding their peace."
Vocabulary lists containing elope
The Bridge Home
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The Fourteenth Goldfish
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5-letter words, List 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He is engaged to his longtime girlfriend with plans to elope.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 5, 2025
He and Clarkson married in a quiet 2013 ceremony in Tennessee after deciding to elope, then welcomed a daughter in 2014 and a son in 2016.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 7, 2025
At these times women may declare their love, elope or even end their marriages.
From BBC • Nov. 22, 2023
And they don’t plan to elope, Zephyr says.
From Washington Times • Jun. 27, 2023
It was going to make its usual quick stop at 8:17, and the runaway couple were going to elope on it.
From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
