Words / B1

FLEE/fliː/

To flee is to leave quickly to escape danger: flee the country; flee from the flood (past fled). Escape is close; run away is everyday. Do not write “fleed”. UK news: civilians flee fighting. Flee is more sudden and fearful than leave or emigrate.

Meaning

To leave a place quickly in order to escape danger (past fled).

Examples

• “Families fled the flooded estate overnight.”
• “He fled the country before the hearing, which is the legal-news sense.”

Good to know

flee + place; flee from danger. Past: fled (not fleed). Close: escape. Everyday: run away. Stronger and more sudden than leave.

Near in meaning

escape

New