flee

verb

FLEE/fliː/

Formsflees, fleeing, fled

3 meanings of flee

1
verbintransitive
To run away quickly to reach safety or get out of danger.
Like running out of a room as fast as you can when something scary happens.
The family had to flee when the fire spread to their street.
Thousands of people are fleeing because of the war.
Similarescape, run, bolt, evacuate, retreat
Oppositestay, remain, stand
2
verbtransitive
To escape from a place, person, or danger by leaving it fast.
Like leaving a sinking boat as fast as you can.
Many families fled the city before the storm arrived.
People flee war zones hoping to find safety somewhere else.
Similarleave, escape, abandon, desert, quit
3
verbintransitive
To fade or disappear very quickly, almost in an instant.
Like how a shadow disappears the moment you turn on a light.
The morning mist will flee as soon as the sun rises.
Her fear fled the moment she saw a friendly face.
Similarvanish, disappear, fade, evaporate, dissipate
Oppositeappear, linger, persist

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Origin

"Flee" comes from Old English flēon, meaning to run away. It is related to the word "fly."