yvlog

Advertisement

View synonyms for

flee

[ flee ]

verb (used without object)

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


verb (used with object)

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

    Synonyms: , , , ,

flee

1

/ ڱː /

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

flee

2

/ ڱː /

verb

  1. a Scot word for fly 1
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a Scot word for fly 2
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈڱ, noun
Discover More

Other yvlog Forms

  • dzܳЭ verb (used with object) outfled outfleeing
  • ܲ·ڱiԲ adjective
Discover More

yvlog History and Origins

Origin of flee1

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

yvlog History and Origins

Origin of flee1

Old English ڱŧDz ; related to Old Frisian ڱ , Old High German fliohan , Gothic thliuhan
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Police will go to the resort searching for Rick, and all characters will feel like the police are there for them, which may result in each character panicking to flee or deal with the situation.

From

Paredes saw the incident and rushed toward the store entrance, then fled when a store clerk called police, the documents say.

From

Brown fled the scene southbound on South Central Avenue and his whereabouts remain unknown, sheriff’s officials said.

From

Israel responded with air strikes on southern Lebanon, and tens of thousands of people were forced to flee on both sides of the border.

From

The family fled as smoke poured out of the home, Sanchez said.

From

Advertisement

Related yvlogs

Discover More

More About Flee

What doesflee 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 doesflee come from?

The first records of flee come from before the 900s. It comes from the Old English ڱŧDz. 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?

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

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

What are some words flee may be commonly confused with?

How isflee 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.

Try usingflee!

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.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement