escape
verb
e- ,
dialectal
ik-ˈskāp \
Definition of escape
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a : to get away (as by flight) escaped from prison
b : to issue from confinement gas is escaping
c of a plant : to run wild from cultivation
2 : to avoid a threatening evil the boat sank but the crew escaped
1 : to get free of : break away from escape the jungle escape the solar system
2 : to get or stay out of the way of : avoid efforts to escape poverty
3 : to fail to be noticed or recallable by his name escapes me
4a : to issue from a smile escaped me
b : to be uttered involuntarily by a sigh of relief escaped her
escape
nounDefinition of escape (Entry 2 of 3)
1 : an act or instance of escaping: such as
a : flight from confinement
b : evasion of something undesirable
c : leakage or outflow especially of a fluid
d : distraction or relief from routine or reality
2 : a means of escape
3 : a cultivated plant run wild
4 or less commonly Escape : escape key
escape
adjectiveDefinition of escape (Entry 3 of 3)
1 : providing a means of escape escape literature
2 : providing a means of evading a regulation, claim, or commitment an escape clause in a contract
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Synonyms for escape
Synonyms: Verb
avoid, dodge, duck, elude, evade, finesse, get around, shake, shirk, shuffle (out of), shun, weasel (out of)
Synonyms: Noun
break, breakout, flight, getaway, lam, rout, slip
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Examples of escape in a Sentence
Verb
They managed to escape from the burning building. He needed a vacation to escape the routine of daily life. She moved to the city to escape the memory of her mother's death. trying to help people to escape poverty trying to help people to escape from poverty He succeeded in escaping punishment for many years. A few passengers somehow escaped injury. She barely escaped death when her car slid off the road. Several passengers escaped without injury.Noun
The prisoners attempted a daring escape. He celebrated his escape from his boring job with a long vacation. She had a lucky escape when she wasn't injured in the accident. She managed to avoid serious injury, but it was a narrow escape. The door was locked; there was no escape. Gardening offered an escape from her busy life. an accidental escape of poisonous gases trying to prevent further escape of liquid
Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Police say the explosion wounded 20 people and the candidate escaped unharmed. — Fox News, "The Latest: Bomb explodes near Pakistan pol's election rally," 13 July 2018 And there’s no escaping this rising tide: Satellite events are scheduled in all five boroughs, Yonkers and New Jersey. — Laurel Graeber, New York Times, "9 Things to Do With Your Kids in N.Y.C. This Weekend," 12 July 2018 Supai escapes major damage The tribe said the waves of flood waters did not hit Supai, though some buildings have water damage, and that there is electricity and the cafe is open. — Dawn Gilbertson, azcentral, "Flash flood closes Havasupai falls," 12 July 2018 At the same time, riding the rails also offers a chance to live free, escaping the confines of conforming, small town life. — Mike Fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Door County theaters add stories and sparkle to summer nights," 11 July 2018 In an interview with WSBT, Dr. Betsy Culp with Seven Oaks veterinary Clinic says Ali probably escaped from her former owner. — Indianapolis Star, "Alligator made home in Indiana pond," 11 July 2018 At this point, the suspense in The Handmaid’s Tale is no longer when or how Offred will escape Gilead. — Rena Gross, Billboard, "'The Handmaid's Tale' Season 2 Finale: Here's What Happened," 11 July 2018 Montgomery County police issued an Amber Alert after a man allegedly stabbed his girlfriend and escaped with his two children, a 9-year-old boy and an 18-month-old girl. — Gal Tziperman Lotan, baltimoresun.com, "Amber Alert: Man allegedly stabbed girlfriend, fled with children, Montgomery County police say," 10 July 2018 Sampson is wanted for domestic violence, escape and resisting arrest. — Sarah Hager, Cincinnati.com, "Sharonville police looking for man who escaped arrest," 10 July 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Instead of a screw cap that lets all the carbonation escape, there’s a tap handle for pulling frothy pints. — Bryan Rogala, Outside Online, "10 Products That Will Turn You Into a Grill Master," 13 July 2018 Then, on Tuesday, shortly after the group inside the deepest cavern had been pulled to safety, a piece of equipment that drained water to levels that made the escape manageable broke. — Jake Maxwell Watts, WSJ, "The Thai Cave Rescue, Before Its Triumph, Teetered on the Brink of Disaster," 11 July 2018 This video captures the remarkable escape of a driver who hit a truck and spun 180 degrees on a motorway. — Fox News, "Van's amazing 180 degree highway spin caught on camera," 11 July 2018 There was Zidane’s two-game ban for stepping on an opponent, the overtime escape against modest Paraguay, and the quarterfinal shootout vs. Italy. — Brian Straus, SI.com, "Le Bleuprint: France Follows Familiar World Cup Path in Reaching Final," 10 July 2018 When the infant escapes from the less-than-doting Edna, the ride becomes a madcap race by the Incredibles to capture Jack-Jack. — Arthur Levine, USA TODAY, "Disneyland's new Pixar Pier: Is it Incredible?," 10 July 2018 The issue of salmon farming in the Salish Sea has been in turmoil on both sides of the U.S.- Canada border since the escape. — Anchorage Daily News, "Audit finds 70 percent of British Columbia fish-processing plants do not comply with environmental regulations," 8 July 2018 French prosecutors opened an investigation into the escape. — Sylvie Corbet, Time, "Infamous French Thief Escapes Prison in Bold Helicopter Caper," 1 July 2018 In 1996, Molly’s daughter, Doris Pilkington Garimara, published the book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence, which was based on the girls’ escape from the Moore River settlement. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Daisy Kadibil’s Story of Escape Called Attention to the “Stolen Generations” of Aboriginal Australians," 29 June 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Another epic escape act seems improbable, but can't be ruled out if Di Francesco gets his tactics right in Rome. — Stevens Griffiths, chicagotribune.com, "Three things we learned from Liverpool v Roma," 24 Apr. 2018 During his final three matches at the sectional, Skokna consistently employed a strategy of letting his opponent get escape points without trying to keep him down. — Patrick Kelly, chicagotribune.com, "Extra work helps pair of Hinsdale Central wrestlers reach state," 16 Feb. 2018 The Saturn 5, which flew 13 times, had an Earth-escape payload capacity of more than 100,000 pounds, about three times the capability of the Falcon Heavy. — William Harwood, CBS News, "SpaceX prepares for dramatic Falcon Heavy launch," 4 Feb. 2018 There are already escape room businesses in Aurora, Naperville, McHenry, St. Charles, Schaumburg, Wheaton, quite a few other suburbs and in Chicago. — Mike Danahey, Elgin Courier-News, "Escape room opens in downtown Elgin," 25 July 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'escape.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for escape
escape
verb
English Language Learners Definition of escape
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to get away from a place (such as a prison) where you are being held or kept
: to get away from a dangerous place or situation
: to get away from something that is difficult or unpleasant
escape
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of escape (Entry 2 of 2)
: an act of escaping from a place, situation, etc.
: a way of escaping from a place, situation, etc.
: an occurrence in which an amount of liquid or gas passes out through a hole or crack in a container
See the full definition for escape in the English Language Learners Dictionary
escape
verb
\
Kids Definition of escape
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : to get away : get free or clear Everyone escaped from the burning building.
2 : to keep free of : avoid She managed to escape injury.
3 : to fail to be noticed or remembered by The name escapes me.
4 : to leak out Gas is escaping from the tank.
escape
nounKids Definition of escape (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : the act of getting away a narrow escape
2 : a way of getting away … there was no escape except up the cliff. —Jack London, The Call of the Wild
escape
verb
\
Medical Definition of escape
(Entry 1 of 3)
: to avoid or find relief from something by means of an escape
: to avoid or find relief from (something) by means of an escape he was unable to escape reality
escape
nounMedical Definition of escape (Entry 2 of 3)
: an act or instance of escaping: as
a : evasion of something undesirable find no method of escape from pain and suffering
b : distraction or relief from routine or reality especially : mental distraction or relief by flight into idealizing fantasy or fiction that serves to glorify the self
escape
adjectiveMedical Definition of escape (Entry 3 of 3)
: providing a means of escape escape literature
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escape
intransitive verbLegal Definition of escape
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to depart from lawful custody with the intent of avoiding confinement or the administration of justice
escape
nounLegal Definition of escape (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : an act or instance of escaping
2 : the criminal offense of escaping
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Comments on escape
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