escape room

noun

plural escape rooms

: a game in which participants confined to a room or other enclosed setting (such as a prison cell) are given a set amount of time to find a way to escape (as by discovering hidden clues and solving a series of riddles or puzzles)

Escape rooms are a game where a group of friends or co-workers get locked into a space to play some puzzles, so they can all win the reward of leaving the room slightly early.

—Nick Douglas

One of the most interesting fusions of digital culture with an older form—in this case, theater—is the escape room, which locks people behind a closed door and asks them to find a way out.

—Chris Suellentrop

also : a place or business where this game is played

This is The Lock Boxx, a new mobile escape room based out of San Luis Obispo County. Customers are "locked" inside the trailer until they can solve the appropriate puzzles and break free.

—Jarod Urrutia

Examples of escape room in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Okanarama game hall has over 100 arcade games, virtual reality activities, a mirror maze, and an escape room. —Kinsey Gidick, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026

A lot of people don’t see working at an escape room as something worthy of being recognized. —Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026

There are plenty of escape rooms in and around Providence, including The Great Escape Room in Downtown. —Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 11 Feb. 2026

According to promotional websites, the park also features escape room-type challenges as well as interactive events. —Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 27 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

2012, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for escape room

• anteroom
• assume
• backroom
• ballroom
• barroom
• bathroom
• bedroom
• boardroom
• bridegroom
• classroom
• cloakroom
• consume

Kids Definition

escape room

noun

: a game in which players confined to a room attempt to escape by discovering hidden clues and solving puzzles or riddles