Dictionary

flee en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈfliː/
• (US) audio
• [ˈflɪi̯]

Etymology

From Middle English flen, from Old English flēon, from Proto-West Germanic *fleuhan, from Proto-Germanic *fleuhaną, from Proto-Indo-European *plewk-, *plew- (“to fly, flow, run”). Cognate with Dutch vlieden, German fliehen, Icelandic flýja, Swedish fly, Gothic 𐌸𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌷𐌰𐌽 (þliuhan). Within English, related to fly and more distantly to flow.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To run away; to escape.
   • The prisoner tried to flee, but was caught by the guards.
   • As they turned into Hertford Street they startled a robin from the poet's head on a barren fountain, and he fled away with a cameo note. 1922, Michael Arlen, “Ep./4/2”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days:
   • The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bolde as a lyon. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 28:1:
   • When, however, the plant spirits were not strong enough in themselves, then the family called in the Medicine Man. He appeared, a "monster of so frightful mien", with noise making apparatus which produced such a terrifying din that even the hardiest demon was likely to flee. 1940, Rosetta E. Clarkson, Green Enchantments: The Magic Spell of Gardens, The Macmillan Company, page 254:
   • Huntingdon's ferocity makes the reaction of staff all the more brave. To move towards danger when others are fleeing is the definition of bravery in my book. To place yourself in danger to protect others. 2025 November 12, Philip Haigh, “High praise for rail staff's courage and clear thinking”, in RAIL, number 1048, page 50:
2. (transitive) To escape from.
   • Many people fled the country as war loomed.
   • Thousands of people moved northward trying to flee the drought.
   • The Government, having lit the fuse, is not going to be allowed to flee the explosion. 1962 October, “Talking of Trains: Passed to you, Mr. Macmillan”, in Modern Railways, page 220:
3. (intransitive) To disappear quickly; to vanish; to fleet.
   • Ethereal products flee once freely exposed to air.

Forms

Deriveds

unfleeing · fleeable · fill and flee · beflee · outflee · everfleeing · fleer

Hypernyms

escape · leave · walk · rush · retreat · run

Relateds

fly · abandon · flow · flight

Synonyms

run for it · take to the hills · rabbit · get out · make a run for it · skedaddle · book it · take flight · shemozzle · beat it · take to one's heels · run off · make tracks · beat a retreat · blow this popsicle stand · make a break for it · bolt · turn tail · take off · fly the coop · run for the hills · hightail it · beat feet · leg it · gnash · tear off · do a bunk · hightail · jump · run a mile · take a powder · do a flit · head for the hills · namous · scat · smash and dash · do a runner · scarper · get lost · kick rocks · amscray · peg it · absquatulate · gas and dash · hit the road · scamper · vamoose · scram · dine and dash · abscond · run away · do a moonlight flit · flee

Translations (239)

uk утекти́ ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · tr kaçmak ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ro scăpa ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · de entfliehen ((transitive) to escape from) · grc φεύγω ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · izh karata ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · pt escapar ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · izh paeta ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · oc fugir ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · my ပြေး ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · la profugio ((transitive) to escape from) · vec fugir ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · af vlug ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · njo-jgl ajen ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · nl ontsnappen ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · pl umknąć ((transitive) to escape from) · ro dispărea (to disappear quickly) · es jullirse ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · mdh laguy ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · pl umknąć ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · sjd поа̄ччкэ ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · be уцячы́ ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · da flygte ((transitive) to escape from) · cs zdrhnout (to disappear quickly) · pt fugir de ((transitive) to escape from) · ko 달아나다 ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · nl vluchten ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · bg изчезвам бързо (to disappear quickly) · kea fuji ((transitive) to escape from) · ko 도망가다 ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · br tec'hout (to disappear quickly) · ga teith ó/roimh ((transitive) to escape from) · ru улету́чиваться (to disappear quickly) · tg гурехтан ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ar هَرَبَ ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · br tec'hel ((transitive) to escape from) · nds-de flüchten ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · kmr revîn ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · mi tūrere ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · mk на́пушти ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · qu mitikuy ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · nn rømme ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · be убе́гчы ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · fo flýggja ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · bn ভাগা ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ro a se evapora (to disappear quickly) · ce дада ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ast fuxir ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · la evanesco (to disappear quickly) · fr échapper ((transitive) to escape from) · got 𐌸𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌷𐌰𐌽 ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · kea fuji ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · sh bežati ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · de flüchten ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ota قاچمق ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · el φεύγω ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · fr s'enfuir ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · es fugarse ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · th หนี ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · et põgenema ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · br tec'hout ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · vi bôn đào ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · cmn 奔 ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · io eskapar ((transitive) to escape from) · la fugio ((transitive) to escape from) · ro fugi ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · hi भागना ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · vec fuxir ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · la confugio ((transitive) to escape from) · cs utíkat ((transitive) to escape from) · te పారిపోవు ((transitive) to escape from) · km គេច ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · cmn 逃 ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · la fugiō ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · nb flykte ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · is flýja ((transitive) to escape from) · fi paeta ((transitive) to escape from) · la aufugio (to disappear quickly) · ky качуу ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · pl uciekać ((transitive) to escape from) · ru убега́ть ((transitive) to escape from) · pt fugir ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · mi kairere ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · pl umykać ((transitive) to escape from) · alt качар ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · bn পালানো ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · te పారిపోవు ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · la refugio ((transitive) to escape from) · io fugar ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · kmr bezîn ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · cy ffoi ((transitive) to escape from) · sh бежати ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · qu chinkakapuy ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · zza remayen ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · vec fùxer ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ka გაქცევა ((transitive) to escape from) · ca esvair-se (to disappear quickly) · grc τρέω ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · de flüchten ((transitive) to escape from) · ckb ڕاکردن ((transitive) to escape from) · ga teith ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · is flýja ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · osx fliohan ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · fi kadota (to disappear quickly) · yi אַנטלויפֿן ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · hu menekül ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · pt sumir (to disappear quickly) · fi karata ((transitive) to escape from) · ang ætflēon ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ur بهاگنا ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ru удира́ть ((transitive) to escape from) · egy i-f:d-D54 ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · la evado ((transitive) to escape from) · cs zmizet (to disappear quickly) · uk утіка́ти ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · eo fuĝi ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ru убега́ть ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · nl ontvluchten ((transitive) to escape from) · smj báhtarit ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ang flēon ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · nl vlieden (to disappear quickly) · tk gaçmak ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · bg бя́гам ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · cmn 奔逃 ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · sk utekať ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ug قاچماق ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · sq vërdhoj ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · fr prendre la fuite ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · sah куот ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · nl ontkomen ((transitive) to escape from) · nn flykte ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · de fliehen ((transitive) to escape from) · fi karata ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ru удира́ть ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · mi hārewa (to disappear quickly) · ar فَرَّ ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · cs vypařit se (to disappear quickly) · eu ihes egin ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · cs utíkat ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · uk бі́гти ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · bg избягвам ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · se báhtarit ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ln kima ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · fa فرار کردن ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · hy փախչել ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · my လိုက်ပြေး ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · la fugitō ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · th หนี ((transitive) to escape from) · sq arratis ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · lv bēgt ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ajp هرب ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · br redek ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ckb ھەڵاتن ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · sv fly ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ja 逃げる ((transitive) to escape from) · nl ontlopen ((transitive) to escape from) · nl vervliegen (to disappear quickly) · es barajustar ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ru убежа́ть ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · mn зугтах ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · fur fuî ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · mk и́збегне ((transitive) to escape from) · kk қашу ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · km រត់ ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ro evada ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ru удра́ть ((transitive) to escape from) · hy փախչել ((transitive) to escape from) · lo ຫນີ ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · qu ayqey ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · vec fugér ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · sv fly ((transitive) to escape from) · he נָס ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · nl wegvluchten ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · lt bėgti ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · fi paeta ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · mk по́бегне ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · gd teich ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · bg избягвам ((transitive) to escape from) · mi papahoro ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · de fliehen ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · uk тіка́ти ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · es furtarse ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ru удра́ть ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ca fugir ((transitive) to escape from) · da fly ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · es fuir ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · es fugir ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · non flýja ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · nb rømme ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · cs utéct ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · vi bôn ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · cu бѣжати ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ru улету́читься (to disappear quickly) · cs utéci ((transitive) to escape from) · ca fugir ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · pl uciekać ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · cy ffoi ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · pl ulatniać się (to disappear quickly) · az qaçmaq ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · bn ফেরার করা ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · uz qochmoq ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ka გაქცევა ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · pl uciec ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · pl umykać ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · br fuiñ ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · gl fuxir ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · la perfugio ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · es huir ((transitive) to escape from) · km ក្រឡេច ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · pl zbiec ((transitive) to escape from) · pl ulotnić się (to disappear quickly) · ko 도망치다 ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ja 逃げる ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · pl zbiec ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · da flygte ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · fr fuir ((transitive) to escape from) · eo fuĝi ((transitive) to escape from) · ckb دەرپەڕین ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ro fugi ((transitive) to escape from) · pl uciec ((transitive) to escape from) · be бегчы́ ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · kmr bazdan ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · es huir ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · es evadirse ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · be уцяка́ць ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · fur fuî ((transitive) to escape from) · sl bežati ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · it fuggire ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · la diffugio ((transitive) to escape from) · my ထွက်ပြေး ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · vi bỏ chạy ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · ru убежа́ть ((transitive) to escape from) · fa گریختن ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · pt escapar de ((transitive) to escape from) · sq iki ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · sk utiecť ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · es huirse ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · nl vlieden ((intransitive) to run away; to escape) · cs utéci ((intransitive) to run away; to escape)