flee
Flee (verb) means to run away from danger or a threatening situation. Example: “Thousands of residents fled the city before the storm hit.”
How to use flee
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo escape quickly from danger or trouble.
Past tense is "fled," not "fleed" or "flied."
Word forms
fled past tense, fleed past tense, flees singular
Etymology
From Old English fleon, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to flee" — distantly related to "fly."
Synonyms
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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.