1
a(1)
: a person or group of persons accompanying another to give protection or as a courtesy
(2)
: a man who goes with a woman to a social event
(3)
: a woman or a man who is hired to go with someone to a social event
—often used before another noun
an escort service/agency
b
: a protective screen of warships or fighter planes or a single ship or plane used to fend off enemy attack from one or more vulnerable craft
2
: accompaniment by a person or an armed protector (such as a ship)
escorted; escorting; escorts
: to accompany as an escort
Synonyms
Examples of escort in a Sentence
Noun
Visitors are not allowed to enter the building without an escort.
The bombers were protected by a fighter escort.
Everyone was surprised when she arrived at the party without an escort.
Verb
Several fighters escorted the bombers back to base.
a student from the college escorted my parents and me on our tour of the campus
Recent Examples on the Web
Siddhant Adlakha, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
The team was offered a police escort to ensure that the journey to the McCarthey Athletic Center did not exceed 30 minutes.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
An article on Saturday about the unclosed cases of six victims possibly linked to the Gilgo Beach serial killings incorrectly said that all the Gilgo Beach victims worked as escorts.
—New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024
Outside, crowds failed to be muted by the March drizzle, though VIP guests were given escorts with purple umbrellas.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 10 Mar. 2024
The Gilgo investigation started with Shannan Gilbert, 24, who in May 2010 disappeared while working as an escort in Oak Beach several miles east of Gilgo and was later found dead there.
—Corey Kilgannon, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
When Harry made a transatlantic dash to Britain this month to see his father, King Charles III, who had just been diagnosed with cancer, he was driven from Heathrow Airport to the royal residence of Clarence House under a police escort.
—Karla Adam, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024
However, another important part of this story is Charles W. David Jr., a young African American Coast Guard petty officer on the escort cutter Comanche, who dove into the freezing waters and helped rescue 93 of 230 survivors.
—Kevin Dayhoff, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2024
Police officers were called to the building by borough employees who were concerned for their safety because of the Black resident’s presence, according to the suit, which also alleges that some employees asked for police escorts to their offices.
—Janelle Griffith, NBC News, 24 Jan. 2024
Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
Mitchell did not initially move while laying on the floor but was helped to his feet and escorted to the bench.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
Teachers struggled to calm her down, as other students were escorted out of the room.
—Sarah Butrymowicz, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
Officials then escort the vehicles from one direction and then the other.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
For example, the United States could insist that aid convoys be escorted by the Israel Defense Forces, or that nearby Israeli military units remain in constant communication with the aid providers, an issue two U.S. senators raised to Mr. Netanyahu in February.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
An officer grabbed Özer, and the young CEO, now wearing a white polo shirt, was handcuffed, escorted down a short flight of stairs, shuttled into an unmarked white van, and driven into the night.
—Leif Wenar, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024
Since coronation day, Thompson helped welcome U.S. President Joe Biden to Windsor Castle in July, joined the King and Queen for their state visit to France in September and escorted the royals to the Church of St. Mary Magdalene at Sandringham on Christmas.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
The resistance to integration was so strong that federal troops had to escort the students, who were between 15 and 17 years old at the time, to their classes.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 1 Apr. 2024
Noun
Monkey Man features a similar subplot in which Kid tries to rescue an escort named Sita (Sobhita Dhulipala) from a brothel frequented by the evil police inspector Rana (Sikandar Kher), one of his primary targets.
—Siddhant Adlakha, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
The team was offered a police escort to ensure that the journey to the McCarthey Athletic Center did not exceed 30 minutes.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
An article on Saturday about the unclosed cases of six victims possibly linked to the Gilgo Beach serial killings incorrectly said that all the Gilgo Beach victims worked as escorts.
—New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024
Outside, crowds failed to be muted by the March drizzle, though VIP guests were given escorts with purple umbrellas.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 10 Mar. 2024
The Gilgo investigation started with Shannan Gilbert, 24, who in May 2010 disappeared while working as an escort in Oak Beach several miles east of Gilgo and was later found dead there.
—Corey Kilgannon, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
When Harry made a transatlantic dash to Britain this month to see his father, King Charles III, who had just been diagnosed with cancer, he was driven from Heathrow Airport to the royal residence of Clarence House under a police escort.
—Karla Adam, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024
However, another important part of this story is Charles W. David Jr., a young African American Coast Guard petty officer on the escort cutter Comanche, who dove into the freezing waters and helped rescue 93 of 230 survivors.
—Kevin Dayhoff, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2024
Police officers were called to the building by borough employees who were concerned for their safety because of the Black resident’s presence, according to the suit, which also alleges that some employees asked for police escorts to their offices.
—Janelle Griffith, NBC News, 24 Jan. 2024
Verb
Nineteen protesters stayed standing in the crosswalk with their arms raised, arrested by police without incident and escorted to nearby patrol cars.
—Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
Mitchell did not initially move while laying on the floor but was helped to his feet and escorted to the bench.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
Teachers struggled to calm her down, as other students were escorted out of the room.
—Sarah Butrymowicz, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
Officials then escort the vehicles from one direction and then the other.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
For example, the United States could insist that aid convoys be escorted by the Israel Defense Forces, or that nearby Israeli military units remain in constant communication with the aid providers, an issue two U.S. senators raised to Mr. Netanyahu in February.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
An officer grabbed Özer, and the young CEO, now wearing a white polo shirt, was handcuffed, escorted down a short flight of stairs, shuttled into an unmarked white van, and driven into the night.
—Leif Wenar, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024
Since coronation day, Thompson helped welcome U.S. President Joe Biden to Windsor Castle in July, joined the King and Queen for their state visit to France in September and escorted the royals to the Church of St. Mary Magdalene at Sandringham on Christmas.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
The resistance to integration was so strong that federal troops had to escort the students, who were between 15 and 17 years old at the time, to their classes.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 1 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'escort.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle French escorte, from Italian scorta, from scorgere to guide, from Vulgar Latin *excorrigere, from Latin ex- + corrigere to make straight, correct — more at correct
First Known Use
Noun
1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Verb
1708, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing escort
Dictionary Entries Near escort
Cite this Entry
“Escort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escort. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
escort
1 of 2 noun
es·cort
ˈes-ˌkȯ(ə)rt 
1
: a person or group of persons accompanying another to give protection or show courtesy
2
: the man who goes on a date with a woman
3
: a protective screen of vehicles, warships, or planes
motorcycle escort
fighter escort
escort
2 of 2 verb
es·cort
is-ˈkȯ(ə)rt
es-ˈ
es-ˈ
ˈes-ˌ
: to go along with as an escort
More from Merriam-Webster on escort
Nglish: Translation of escort for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of escort for Arabic Speakers
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