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fire escape
noun
: a device for escape from a burning building
especially
: a metal stairway attached to the outside of a building
Examples of fire escape in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Use that time to gather yourself on the fire escape or balcony, or even to spend a few minutes practicing deep-breathing techniques in the bathroom.
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Angela Haupt, TIME, 11 Feb. 2025
Under the direction of Robert Wise and director-choreographer Jerome Robbins (who also commandeered the original stage production), the playgrounds and fire escapes of the Upper West Side framed an epic—and enduringly compelling—urban love story.
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Vogue, 25 Jan. 2025
Some survivors told the Turkish news media of terrifying escapes, exacerbated by a lack of fire alarms or clear fire escapes.
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Ben Hubbard, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Per investigators, he is suspected of using fire escape stairs in the rear of Khan's residential building to enter the actor's abode.
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Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
1725, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near fire escape
Cite this Entry
“Fire escape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fire%20escape. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
fire escape
noun
: a stairway or ladder that provides a means of escape from a building in case of fire
More from Merriam-Webster on fire escape
Nglish: Translation of fire escape for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fire escape
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