flee

[ flee ]

verb (used without object)

, fled [fled], flee·ing.

1. to run away, as from danger or pursuers; take flight.
2. to move swiftly; fly; speed.

verb (used with object)

, fled, flee·ing.

1. to run away from (a place, person, etc.).

   Synonyms: elude, shun, avoid, escape, evade

flee

¹

/ fliː /

verb

1. a Scot word for fly 1

noun

1. a Scot word for fly 2

flee

²

/ fliː /

verb

1. to run away from (a place, danger, etc); fly

   to flee the country

2. intr to run or move quickly; rush; speed

   she fled to the door

Derived Forms

• ˈfleer, noun

Other Words From

• outflee verb (used with object) outfled outfleeing
• un·fleeing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of flee¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English fleen, Old English flēon; cognate with Old High German flichan ( German fliehen ), Gothic thliuhan; compare Old English fleogan “to fly”; fly ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of flee¹

Old English flēon ; related to Old Frisian fliā , Old High German fliohan , Gothic thliuhan

Example Sentences

Prime suspect Mr Lamba, 23, is thought to have fled the country and his current whereabouts are unknown.

From BBC

It opened its borders to people fleeing the war in Syria in 2011; now there are upwards of 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, according to the UN.

From BBC

In 1985, a divided City Council adopted a resolution declaring Los Angeles a city of sanctuary for immigrants fleeing political persecution and violence, particularly refugees from El Salvador and Guatemala.

From Los Angeles Times

Members would force security guards to the ground at gunpoint, zip-tie them and grab money bags before fleeing, according to law enforcement.

From Los Angeles Times

She leaned heavily on anti-communist messaging to reach out to older voters who fled Vietnam after the fall of Saigon.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• depart
• desert
• fly
• get
• jump
• leave
• retreat
• take off
• vanish

More About Flee

What does flee mean?

To flee is to run away or escape from a dangerous or otherwise negative situation.

Much less commonly, flee can be used to mean to move at a fast pace. The past tense of flee is fled.

Example: He was forced to flee his home as a result of the impending battle.

Where does flee come from?

The first records of flee come from before the 900s. It comes from the Old English flēon. The related Old English word fleogan means “to fly” (and is the basis for fly).

Humans can’t fly, of course, but flee implies the quickness and urgency with which a bird flies away. In fact, one of the meanings of the verb fly is “to flee or escape,” and a common synonym of flee is take flight. When we talk about the fight-or-flight reaction, the flight part doesn’t refer to actual flying—it means fleeing. Flee means “to run away,” and fleeing often involves literally running, but people can flee in all kinds of ways, including using vehicles. The best way to flee is whatever gets you out of a bad situation the fastest.

Flee typically implies that the bad situation is a very dangerous one. Refugees are usually fleeing from war, violence, or famine. Sometimes, however, people flee when they shouldn’t. Drivers who have hit someone or have caused an accident and have driven away are often said to have fled the scene.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to flee?

• fled (past tense verb)
• outflee (verb)
• fleer (noun)
• unfleeing (adjective)

What are some synonyms for flee?

• run away
• take flight
• escape
• fly

What are some words that share a root or word element with flee? 

 

• fly
• flight

What are some words that often get used in discussing flee?

 

• depart
• home
• fast
• rapidly
• scene
• danger
• war
• oppression

What are some words flee may be commonly confused with?

• flea

How is flee used in real life?

Flee is often used in reference to situations that are very dangerous—those in which people are fleeing for their lives.

They run into burning buildings as we flee them. They approach where bullets are fired as we frantically escape the danger. They mobilize for natural disasters as we shudder in fear of our lives. First Responders — a rare & cherished subset of our species.

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) February 9, 2018

Some call parents w/kids in caravan, “reckless”. Many of my Cuban friends were sent here alone as kids -to live w/strangers in a foreign land. Castro wouldn’t let adults flee. Others brought kids in rafts. Many died on journey. Loving desperate parents will do desperate things.

— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) November 27, 2018

Detectives are investigating after six people were wounded by gunfire, one fatally, at 3rd and Pine. The suspect(s) fled the scene. If you have information about this incident, please call our tip line at [phone]

— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) January 23, 2020

 

 

Try using flee!

Is flee used correctly in the following sentence?

The suspects chose to flee the scene instead of staying and assisting the victim of the accident.