flee

verb

ˈflē 

fled ˈfled  ; 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.

Synonyms

• dematerialize
• disappear
• dissolve
• evanesce
• evaporate
• fade
• fly
• melt
• sink
• vanish

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

As seen with Kylian Mbappe in summer this year when leaving Paris Saint-Germain, the England star could let his contract at Anfield expire on June 3o and then flee to the Bernabeu free of charge ahead of 2025/2026. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

Every year or so, a friend or family member throws up their hands at the cost of living in California and flees to a state with better tax breaks and lower home prices. —Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 2 Dec. 2024

The gunman fled in what appeared to be a black Ford sedan. —Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 2 Dec. 2024

Reed would have to flee to Chicago, and change his name. —Jim Axelrod, CBS News, 1 Dec. 2024

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

Phrases Containing flee

• leave/flee the nest

Kids Definition

flee

verb

ˈflē 

fled ˈfled  ; 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