flee

verb \ ˈflē \

|Updated on: 11 Jun 2018

Examples: flee in a Sentence

Definition of flee

fled play \ˈfled\; fleeing

intransitive verb

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

The family fled from the war-torn zone.

b : to hurry toward a place of security

Refugees fled to a neighboring country.

2 : to pass away swiftly : vanish

mists fleeing before the rising sun

transitive verb

: to run away from : shun

Many people fled the city to escape the fighting.

See flee defined for English-language learners

See flee defined for kids

Examples of flee in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of flee from the Web

Paul Amotun Lokoro fled war in his home country of South Sudan.

— idris mukhtar, CNN, "Kenya's Kakuma camp will host world's first TEDx in a refugee camp," 8 June 2018
In March, in the city of Pomona, in eastern L.A. County, an armed motorist allegedly battling depression fled the scene of a car accident and locked himself inside a nearby apartment complex.

— geoff manaugh, The Atlantic, "Drone Cops Take Flight in Los Angeles," 8 June 2018
During an attack in February on a school in the town of Modit, children fled into a hut to hide.

— sam mednick, Fox News, "South Sudan's latest civil war atrocities kept out of sight," 7 June 2018
The Statesman Journal reports the 29-year-old woman fled police, broke into a Salem home, was told to leave and was found nearby by police.

— jim ryan, OregonLive.com, "Escaped female inmate arrested, jailed in Marion County; 1 woman still on lam," 7 June 2018
The suspect fled from the scene, and police are investigating.

— zachary hansen, ajc, "Cops: Man shot in head while driving in SW Atlanta, hits cyclist with truck," 7 June 2018
The day after the commentary was published, Mr. Yanukovych fled Ukraine amid protests of his government’s corruption and pivot toward Moscow, eventually arriving in Russia and effectively ending his presidency.

— New York Times, "With Mueller Closing In, Manafort’s Allies Abandon Him," 7 June 2018
After an hour, the mother and three children fled when Waggener walked across the street.

— jared gilmour, sacbee, "Man made Spanish-speaking 'slave' neighbors pledge allegiance to the flag on video, cops say," 6 June 2018
The suspects fled the scene in the silver car, last seen heading northbound on Gazelle Drive.

— maria elena vizcaino, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Man, 19, shot several times outside home in Poinciana, deputies say," 6 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flee.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of flee

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

flee Synonyms

Phrases

drop out of sight;

FLEE Defined for English Language Learners

flee

verb

Definition of flee for English Language Learners

: to run away from danger
: to run away from (a place)

FLEE Defined for Kids

flee

verb \ ˈflē \

Definition of flee for Students

fled \ˈfled\; fleeing

: to run away or away from

Animals fled the fire.

Learn More about flee

See words that rhyme with flee Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for flee Spanish Central: Translation of flee Nglish: Translation of flee for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of flee for Arabic speakers

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flee

Definition of flee

Examples of flee in a Sentence

Recent Examples of flee from the Web

Origin and Etymology of flee

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FLEE Defined for English Language Learners

flee

Definition of flee for English Language Learners

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flee

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