escape room

noun

plural escape rooms

: a game in which participants confined to a room or other enclosed setting (such as a prison cell) are given a set amount of time to find a way to escape (as by discovering hidden clues and solving a series of riddles or puzzles)

Escape rooms are a game where a group of friends or co-workers get locked into a space to play some puzzles, so they can all win the reward of leaving the room slightly early.

—Nick Douglas

One of the most interesting fusions of digital culture with an older form—in this case, theater—is the escape room, which locks people behind a closed door and asks them to find a way out.

—Chris Suellentrop

also : a place or business where this game is played

This is The Lock Boxx, a new mobile escape room based out of San Luis Obispo County. Customers are "locked" inside the trailer until they can solve the appropriate puzzles and break free.

—Jarod Urrutia

Examples of escape room in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Or From might just be doing its own version of Thirteen Ghosts with Jade at its center, bombarding him (and us) with spooky stuff to keep us on our toes, and that’s better than any escape room. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024

The interactive episodes feature an interactive escape room showcasing Science, Engineering, Technology and Math (STEM) content. —Jennifer Kite-Powell, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

There's also a House of Terror escape room with keys, locks, riddles, clues and lights. —Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2024

Fans will be tasked with solving puzzles and riddles in an escape room based on the businessman’s life. —Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

2012, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

escape room

noun

: a game in which players confined to a room attempt to escape by discovering hidden clues and solving puzzles or riddles