fled: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral (used in both formal and informal contexts)
Quick answer
What does “fled” mean?
to run or move away quickly from something dangerous, unpleasant, or to escape a situation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to run or move away quickly from something dangerous, unpleasant, or to escape a situation.
To leave a place, person, or situation permanently, often under pressure or to avoid negative consequences. It implies a rapid, often desperate departure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. It is equally understood and used in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations of urgency and escape.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in formal/written registers (news, literature) in both varieties. In casual AmE speech, 'ran away' or 'got out of there' might be more common, but 'fled' is perfectly standard.
Grammar
How to Use “fled” in a Sentence
[Subject] fled [Place/Threat][Subject] fled from [Threat/Source][Subject] fled to [Destination/Safety][Subject] fled [Direct Object (e.g., the country)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fled” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The protesters fled the square as police arrived.
- During the Blitz, many children fled London for the countryside.
American English
- The suspect fled the scene before officers arrived.
- Residents fled the coast as the hurricane approached.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form. 'Fleeingly' is obsolete.
- Not applicable.
American English
- No standard adverbial form.
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- The fled rebels sought asylum abroad. (rare, participle used adjectivally)
- A fled population requires international aid. (rare)
American English
- The fled convict was caught at the border. (participle)
- Fled capital can destabilise an economy. (technical)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possible in contexts of financial scandal: 'The CEO fled the country after the fraud was discovered.'
Academic
Common in historical/political texts describing refugees, defectors, or populations escaping conflict.
Everyday
Used for dramatic effect: 'When the alarm went off, everyone fled the building.'
Technical
Used in legal contexts (fleeing the scene of a crime) and in disaster management reports.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fled”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fled”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fled”
- Using 'fled' in present tense (incorrect: 'He flees the city yesterday.'). It is only past tense.
- Confusing 'fled' (escape) with 'filed' (to organize documents).
- Incorrect preposition: 'fled to the danger' instead of 'fled from the danger'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily for people or animals, but it can be used metaphorically for abstract things like 'capital fled the country'.
They are often synonyms. 'Fled' emphasises the act of running *from* something. 'Escaped' emphasises the successful result of getting *out* of confinement or danger.
Yes, that's the present perfect tense: 'He has fled' means he fled at an unspecified time in the past and is still gone or it's relevant now.
It is neutral. It is common in news reports and literature but can be used in everyday speech for dramatic effect.
to run or move away quickly from something dangerous, unpleasant, or to escape a situation.
Fled: in British English it is pronounced /fled/, and in American English it is pronounced /fled/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “fled the coop (informal for leaving home/situation)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FLEa that jumps away quickly. FLED is what you do when you need to get away like a flea.
Conceptual Metaphor
ESCAPE IS MOVEMENT AWAY FROM DANGER; A THREAT IS A PURSUER.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'fled' MOST appropriately?