flee

verb

fled ˈfled How to pronounce flee (audio) ; fleeing
Synonyms of fleenext

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.
c
law : to evade arrest, detention, or prosecution
2
: to pass away swiftly : vanish
mists fleeing before the rising sun

transitive verb

: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
He was spotted ducking down in a field as traffic passed by and fled before he was found in a small cave, police have said. Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 1 June 2026 If your husband can limit his exposure to them without having to flee his own house, the situation may feel less awkward. Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026 Does Clark do the sensible thing, turn around, and flee this nine-to-five Narnia? Justin Chang, New Yorker, 31 May 2026 The prosecutor's office said that in July 2021, officers from several Michigan law enforcement agencies, including Furman, were in pursuit of a 35-year-old man who fled from a traffic stop. Nick Lentz, CBS News, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for flee

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of flee was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flee. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

flee

verb
fled ˈfled How to pronounce flee (audio) ; fleeing
1
a
: to run away often from danger or evil : fly
b
: to run away from : shun
2
: to pass away swiftly : vanish
the mist fled before the rising sun

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