Flee — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈflē/

Meaning & Definition of Flee

Flee (verb)

  1. to run away often from danger or evil, fly
  2. to hurry toward a place of security
  3. to evade arrest, detention, or prosecution

Flee (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cease to be visible

    "the fog fled with the arrival of the dawn"

    similar: dematerialize, disappear, dissolve, evanesce, evaporate, fade, fly, melt, sink, vanish, drop out of sight
    related: blank (out), clear, die (away or down or out), disperse, dissipate, dry up, blur, dim
    opposite: appear, materialize
    near: arrive, break out, come out, emerge, issue, loom, show up

  2. to get free from a dangerous or confining situation

    "a murderer who fled on foot"

    similar: abscond, break out (of), clear out, escape, fly, get out, lam, run away, run off, break free
    related: avoid, elude, evade, lose, shun, decamp, depart, elope, exit, go, leave, move, pull out, quit, sally (forth), shove (off), take off, walk out, disentangle, extricate, bring off, emancipate, enfranchise, free, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, redeem, release, rescue, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter
    near: abide, dwell, hang around, linger, remain, stay, stick around, tarry, come back, return

  3. to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening

    "a toddler who fled when the ladybug he had been quietly watching suddenly began flying around the room"

    similar: bolt, break, bug out, fly, hightail (it), retreat, run, run away, run off, skedaddle, beat a retreat, beat it, make tracks, turn tail
    related: abscond, clear out, decamp, elope, escape, get (away), get out, lam, light out, make off, mizzle (chiefly British), scarper (British), scat, scram, skip (out), skirr
    near: beard, brave, confront, dare, defy, face, abide, dwell, hang around, linger, remain, stay, stick around, tarry

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Flee

The most common words with a similar meaning to Flee:

dematerialize, disappear, dissolve, evanesce, evaporate, fade, fly, melt, sink, vanish, abscond, break out (of), clear out, escape, get out, lam, run away, run off, bolt, break, bug out, hightail (it), retreat, run, skedaddle, drop out of sight, break free, beat a retreat, beat it, make tracks, turn tail

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Flee

Words with the opposite meaning of Flee:

appear, materialize

Related Words for Flee

blank (out), clear, die (away or down or out), disperse, dissipate, dry up, blur, dim, avoid, elude, evade, lose, shun, decamp, depart, elope, exit, go, leave, move, pull out, quit, sally (forth), shove (off), take off, walk out, disentangle, extricate, bring off, emancipate

Near Antonyms of Flee

arrive, break out, come out, emerge, issue, loom, show up, abide, dwell, hang around, linger, remain, stay, stick around, tarry, come back, return, beard, brave, confront, dare, defy, face

Word Forms of Flee

Inflections: fled, fleeing

Origin & Etymology of Flee

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

First known use: before 12th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Flee

Words & Phrases Containing Flee

leave/flee the nest

Frequently Asked Questions about Flee

What does "Flee" mean?

"Flee" means to run away often from danger or evil, fly. As a verb, it is defined as: to run away often from danger or evil, fly. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Flee"?

Other words for "Flee" include dematerialize, disappear, dissolve, evanesce, evaporate, fade, fly and melt. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Flee" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Flee"?

There are 84 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Flee". Common alternatives include dematerialize, disappear, dissolve, evanesce, evaporate, fade, fly, melt, sink and vanish.

What is the opposite of "Flee"?

Antonyms of "Flee" include appear and materialize. Near antonyms include arrive, break out, come out and emerge.

How do you use "Flee" in a sentence?

Examples of "Flee" in a sentence: "the fog fled with the arrival of the dawn"; "a murderer who fled on foot"; "a toddler who fled when the ladybug he had been quietly watching suddenly began flying around the room".

Is "Flee" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Flee" is a verb.

Is "Flee" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Flee" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Flee"?

"Flee" is pronounced /ˈflē/.