flee
FLEE
Flee (verb) means to run away from danger or a threatening situation. Example: “Birds flee the field whenever the farmer's dog comes running through it.”
verb
1
To run away from danger or a threatening situation.
"As they turned into Hertford Street they startled a robin from the poet's head on a barren fountain, and he fled away with a cameo note."
— Michael Arlen, Ep./4/2 (1922)
"Birds flee the field whenever the farmer's dog comes running through it."
"Huntingdon's ferocity makes the reaction of staff all the more brave. To move towards danger when others are fleeing is the definition of bravery in my book. To place yourself in danger to protect others."
— Philip Haigh, High praise for rail staff's courage and clear thinking (2025)
"Thousands of residents fled the city before the storm hit."
"The suspect fled the scene before police arrived."
"The prisoner tried to flee, but was caught by the guards."
How to use flee
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo escape quickly from danger or trouble.
Common mistake
Past tense is "fled," not "fleed" or "flied."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
flee the country
flee the scene
flee for safety
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- flees
- Past tense
- fled, fleed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Birds _____ the field whenever the farmer's dog comes running through it.
Etymology
From Old English fleon, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to flee" — distantly related to "fly."
Synonyms
View more →
evacuate
abscond
absquatulate
amscray
beat a retreat
beat it
beat feet
blow this popsicle stand
bolt
book it
dine and dash
do a bunk
Related words
Rhymes for flee
See all rhymes for flee →Frequently asked questions
What does “flee” mean?
The word “flee” means to run away from danger or a threatening situation. In plain terms, to escape quickly from danger or trouble.
How do you pronounce “flee”?
“Flee” is pronounced FLEE (/ˈfliː/ in IPA).
How do you use “flee” in a sentence?
Here is “flee” used in a sentence: “Thousands of residents fled the city before the storm hit.”
What is another word for “flee”?
Words with a similar meaning to “flee” include abscond, absquatulate, amscray, beat a retreat, beat it and beat feet.
What part of speech is “flee”?
“Flee” is a verb.
Where does the word “flee” come from?
The word “flee” comes from Old English. From Old English fleon, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to flee" — distantly related to "fly.".
Is “flee” a common word?
“Flee” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between flee and escape?
Flee emphasizes the act of running away quickly from danger or a threat, often before the danger fully arrives. Escape emphasizes successfully getting free from a place, situation, or captivity, and can be used even after being trapped or confined, whereas flee focuses on the act of fleeing itself.
Is flee transitive or intransitive?
Flee can be used both transitively and intransitively: intransitively as in 'the residents fled' and transitively as in 'they fled the country,' where it takes a direct object without needing a preposition like 'from.'
What is the past tense of flee?
The past tense of flee is fled, an irregular verb form, as in 'they fled the burning building.' It does not follow the regular '-ed' pattern.
