bug out

verb

bugged out; bugging out; bugs out

intransitive verb

1

: to retreat during a military action

especially : to flee in panic

2

: to depart especially in a hurry

bugout

ˈbəg-ˌau̇t 

noun

Synonyms of bug out

• retreat
• flee
• fly
• bolt
• run
• run away
• escape
• run off

Examples of bug out in a Sentence

the ground soldiers bugged out just before the start of the aerial bombing

the strange visitor bugged out without so much as saying a word

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bug out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout