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
Southlake police searched for the suspects in that burglary, but determined the suspects had fled before police arrived, officials said.
—
Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Dec. 2025
The drama revolves around a young woman who, falsely accused and forced to flee, adopts someone else’s identity to protect a little girl who has no one else.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 7 Dec. 2025
There are many books about German Jews fleeing their country as Hitler gained power.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025
Critics say Trump’s border policies leave people fleeing crushing poverty and threatening regimes and gangs stranded at the border, or forced to try crossing in more dangerous terrain.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flee
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Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Dec. 2025
The drama revolves around a young woman who, falsely accused and forced to flee, adopts someone else’s identity to protect a little girl who has no one else.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 7 Dec. 2025
There are many books about German Jews fleeing their country as Hitler gained power.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025
Critics say Trump’s border policies leave people fleeing crushing poverty and threatening regimes and gangs stranded at the border, or forced to try crossing in more dangerous terrain.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flee
Cite this Entry
“Flee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flee. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
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