flee

1 to cease to be visible the fog fled with the arrival of the dawn Synonyms dematerialize, dissolve, evanesce, evaporate, fade, disappear, fly, go (away), melt, sink, vanishRelated Words blank (out), clear, die (away or down or out), disperse, dissipate, dissolve, dry up; blur, dimNear Antonyms arrive, break out, come out, emerge, issue, loom, show upAntonyms appear, materialize

2 to get free from a dangerous or confining situation a murderer who fled on foot Synonyms abscond, break out (of), clear out, escape, fly, get out, lam, run away, run offRelated Words avoid, elude, evade, lose, shun; decamp, depart, elope, exit, go, leave, move, pull out, quit, sally (forth), shove (off), take off, walk out; disentangle, extricate; bring off, emancipate, enfranchise, free, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, redeem, release, rescue, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetterNear Antonyms abide, dwell, hang around, linger, remain, stay, stick around, tarry; come back, return

3 to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening a toddler who fled when the ladybug he had been quietly watching suddenly began flying around the room Synonyms bolt, break, bug out, run, fly, hightail (it), retreat, run away, run off, skedaddleRelated Words abscond, clear out, decamp, elope, escape, get (away), get out, lam, light out, make off, mizzle [chiefly British], scarper [British], scat, scram, skip (out), skirrNear Antonyms beard, brave, confront, dare, defy, face; abide, dwell, hang around, linger, remain, stay, stick around, tarry