decamp

1 of 2

verb

de·​camp di-ˈkamp 

dē-

decamped; decamping; decamps

intransitive verb

1

: to break up a camp

2

: to depart suddenly : abscond

decampment

di-ˈkamp-mənt 

dē-

noun

decampment

2 of 2

noun

de·​camp·​ment di-ˈkamp-mənt 

dē-

plural -s

: the act or process of decamping : departure from a camp

Examples of decamp in a Sentence

Verb

She took the papers and decamped.

He decamped to Europe soon after news of the scandal broke.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The series opens with Harrelson decamping with his fictionalized family to McConaughey’s ranch in Austin after the wedding of his oldest daughter, Olive (Highdee Kuan), falls apart. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026

Yet each member of this trinity eventually decamped to Paris after planting their roots in the United Kingdom. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026

Not knowing what to do with themselves, Sonnenfeld and Place decamped for the Ivy, ordering gimlets despite the early hour. — Dan Heching, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

The potential for conflict bursts into the open at a seaside home that has been in Ye-ji’s husband’s family for years, where the group has decamped for a supposedly restorative holiday. — Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

French décamper, from Middle French descamper, from des- de- + camper to camp

Noun

French décampement, from décamper to decamp + -ment

First Known Use

Verb

1676, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for decamp

• encamp
• headlamp
• preamp
• revamp
• timestamp
• amp
• champ
• clamp
• cramp
• damp
• gamp
• lamp

Kids Definition

decamp

verb

de·​camp di-ˈkamp 

1

: to pack up gear and leave a camp

2

: to depart suddenly : abscond

decamped with the funds

decampment

-mənt 

noun