fled
ˈfled 
; fleeing
; fleeing
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.
c
law
: to evade arrest, detention, or prosecution
2
: to pass away swiftly : vanish
mists fleeing before the rising sun
: to run away from
fled the scene of the accident
Many people fled the city to escape the fighting.
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
Payne fled after the shooting, leaving his children behind.
—
Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Feb. 2026
In August 2024, students stormed her official residence, smashing walls and looting its contents, forcing her to flee into neighboring India and exile.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
After that, detectives said the driver backed up and hit the deputy's vehicle a second time before fleeing the scene on West Hallandale Beach Boulevard.
—Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
The officer attempted to stop Dixon, who fled in the vehicle north on Mayfair Road before making a U-turn and heading west away from the officer.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flee
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Feb. 2026
In August 2024, students stormed her official residence, smashing walls and looting its contents, forcing her to flee into neighboring India and exile.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
After that, detectives said the driver backed up and hit the deputy's vehicle a second time before fleeing the scene on West Hallandale Beach Boulevard.
—Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
The officer attempted to stop Dixon, who fled in the vehicle north on Mayfair Road before making a U-turn and heading west away from the officer.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flee
Cite this Entry
“Flee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flee. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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