flee

flee

verb \ˈflē\

fled \ˈfled\ flee·ing

Definition of FLEE

intransitive verb

1

a : to run away often from danger or evil : fly

b : to hurry toward a place of security

2

: to pass away swiftly : vanish

transitive verb

: to run away from : shun

Examples of FLEE

1. The family fled from Nazi Germany to Britain in 1936.
2. He was accused of trying to flee the scene of the accident.
3. Many people fled the city to escape the fighting.
4. He was forced to flee the country.

Origin of FLEE

Middle English flen, from Old English flēon; akin to Old High German fliohan to flee

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to FLEE

Synonyms

dematerialize, dissolve, evanesce, evaporate, fade, disappear, fly, go (away), melt, sink, vanish

Antonyms

appear, materialize

Related Words

blank (out), clear, die (away or down or out), disperse, dissipate, dissolve, dry up; blur, dim

Near Antonyms

arrive, break out, come out, emerge, issue, loom, show up

Rhymes with FLEE

b, be, bee, c, cay, cee, Cree, d, dee, Dee, dree, e, fee, flea, free, g, gee, ghee, glee, gree, he, key, Key, knee, lea, lee, me, mi, p, pea, pee, plea, pree, quay, re, Rhee, scree, sea, see, she, si, ski, spree, sri, t, tea, tee, the, thee, three, ti, tree, twee, Twi, v, vee, we, wee, whee, ye, z, zee