flee

verb

fled ˈfled How to pronounce flee (audio) ; fleeing

intransitive verb

1
a
: to run away often from danger or evil : fly
The family fled from the war-torn zone.
b
: to hurry toward a place of security
Refugees fled to a neighboring country.
2
: to pass away swiftly : vanish
mists fleeing before the rising sun

transitive verb

: to run away from : shun
Many people fled the city to escape the fighting.

Examples of flee in a Sentence

The family fled from Nazi Germany to Britain in 1936. He was accused of trying to flee the scene of the accident. Many people fled the city to escape the fighting. He was forced to flee the country.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At the time, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials said Rivera appeared to have been the same man who’d fled after deputies tried to pull him over for having a fake license plate. Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025 The wildfire plowing through homes in California's Pacific Palisades was at Tiptoe's doorstep that Tuesday, forcing Doran and her extended family to flee with the 175-pound reptile in tow. Alina Hartounian, NPR, 14 Jan. 2025 The report found that 5% of the camps were created right after the quake in 2010, while an overwhelming number have sprouted up in response to the widespread gang violence that has forced Haitians to flee their homes and neighborhoods. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025 Refugees are people who are forced to flee their homes and are unable to return because of war and persecution. Carissa Zaffiro, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for flee 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English flen, from Old English flēon; akin to Old High German fliohan to flee

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of flee was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near flee

Cite this Entry

“Flee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flee. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

flee

verb
fled ˈfled How to pronounce flee (audio) ; fleeing
1
a
: to run away often from danger or evil : fly
b
: to run away from : shun
2
: to pass away swiftly : vanish
the mist fled before the rising sun

More from Merriam-Webster on flee

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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