flee

verb

\ ˈflē

fled\ ˈfled

\; fleeing

Definition of flee

intransitive verb

1a : 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.

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about flee

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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 on the Web

However, Holocaust researchers have also collected ample evidence of Polish villagers who murdered Jews fleeing the Nazis, or Polish blackmailers who preyed on the Jews for financial gain and stole their property. — Aron Heller, The Seattle Times, "Israel hosts east European leaders after summit scrapped," 19 Feb. 2019 Arizona last year attracted more than 122,000 newcomers, many fleeing states with crushing regulation and taxes. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "An Arizona Occupational Welcome," 18 Feb. 2019 Anger turned to sobbing turned to fleeing the set and getting a hotel room. — Zoe Weiner, Glamour, "Chrissy Teigen Says She Once Had a ‘Meltdown’ Over a Woman in John Legend’s Music Video," 30 July 2018 All sorts of Americans, from Mormons fleeing persecution to those eyeing a potential Gold Rush, settled into the area. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "The Hoover Dam Changed America—And It Might Do It Again," 27 July 2018 The most interesting part of Juli Hayden’s commentary is not her thoughts regarding immigration, calls for border security or her perception that fleeing Central American migrants are an imminent threat. — latimes.com, "Immigrants want what we have: the American Dream," 12 July 2018 That led to imaginative stories about a fugitive fleeing a lynch mob. — The Economist, "A mummy’s final meal adds to an ancient mystery," 12 July 2018 His family says he was last seen alive fleeing alongside other protesters through the dusty streets of the capital’s Las Adjuntas slum as national guardsmen opened fire on people who had blocked streets with mounds of trash. — Fabiola Sanchez, The Seattle Times, "Deadly crackdown stokes fear among protesters in Venezuela," 20 Feb. 2019 As its leaders fled Nazi Germany, the Bauhaus influence was scattered to cities around the world. — Todd Plummer, Harper's BAZAAR, "The 100-Year-Old German Art School That’s Still Influencing the Fashion World," 13 Feb. 2019

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.