decamp

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

Examples of decamp in a Sentence

She took the papers and decamped.

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

Recent Examples on the Web

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

The team decamped for a single day on the Paramount lot in Los Angeles. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

The pressure is becoming too much to bear, and one by one her circle of friends decamp to the only slightly safer environs of pre-war Paris. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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