Flee: meaning, definitions and examples

Flee is often used when someone leaves a place quickly due to imminent danger or threat.

• They had to flee their home when the war began.
• The villagers fled from the approaching hurricane.

Escape is used when someone succeeds in getting away from confinement, danger, or a difficult situation.

• The prisoners planned their escape for months.
• He managed to escape from the burning building.

Run away is often used when someone leaves a place or situation, typically to avoid problems or difficulties, and sometimes with a hint of irresponsibility.

• The teenager ran away from home after a fight with his parents.
• The dog ran away when the gate was left open.

Bolt implies a sudden, quick movement away from something, often associated with an intense reaction like fear or surprise.

• The horse bolted when it heard the gunshot.
• The thief bolted when he saw the police officer.

Abscond is usually used in a legal context or when someone leaves suddenly and secretly to avoid arrest or prosecution.

• The accountant absconded with the company’s funds.
• He absconded from parole supervision.

Use this word when someone is running away quickly to avoid danger or a threat. It often implies a sense of urgency and fear.

• The villagers had to flee from the approaching floodwaters.
• She decided to flee the country to avoid persecution.

Use this when someone succeeds in getting away from confinement, danger, or an unpleasant situation. It can be used in both literal and figurative senses.

• The prisoner managed to escape from the high-security prison.
• Reading is his escape from reality.

This term refers to the act of fleeing or running away, often in a formal or literary context. It can also refer to the act of flying or leaving via airplane.

• Their flight from the city was frantic and poorly organized.
• Her flight to New York leaves tomorrow morning.

This word indicates a general act of leaving a place. It does not imply urgency or danger and is formal in tone.

• Her departure from the company was unexpected.
• The flight's departure is scheduled for 10 AM.

This word is used in scenarios where people are removed from a dangerous place, often in an organized manner. It is commonly associated with emergency situations.

• The evacuation of the town was ordered due to the wildfire.
• The building had to be evacuated during the fire drill.