flee
B2Neutral to formal; common in news, literature, and formal narratives. Less common in casual conversation where 'run away' or 'escape' might be used.
Definition
Meaning
To run away from a place or situation of danger or trouble; to escape by hurrying away.
Can also refer to disappearing or vanishing rapidly, such as time 'fleeing', or to avoiding something undesirable (e.g., 'flee from responsibility').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly implies urgency and often fear. Typically an intransitive verb (flee from), but can be transitive with a place (flee the country). Suggests a definitive, rapid departure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Both use the word similarly, though it may appear slightly more literary in common speech in both varieties.
Connotations
In both, carries connotations of urgency and often cowardice or self-preservation.
Frequency
Equally used in formal contexts (news, reports). In informal speech, both dialects might prefer 'run away' or 'escape'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + flee + (from) + [Place/Danger][Subject] + flee + [Place]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “flee the nest”
- “flee like the wind”
- “take to one's heels and flee”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically: 'Investors fled the market.'
Academic
Used in historical, political, or sociological contexts: 'Populations fled the war zone.'
Everyday
Used for dramatic effect: 'I fled the party when I saw my ex.'
Technical
Used in legal contexts (fleeing justice), military reports, or disaster management.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The protesters fled from the police.
- He decided to flee the country before the trial.
- As the alarm sounded, everyone fled the building.
American English
- The residents fled the approaching hurricane.
- The suspect fled the scene in a blue car.
- They had to flee their home due to the wildfires.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cat fled from the dog.
- They fled the burning house.
- During the earthquake, people fled into the streets.
- The thief fled when he saw the security camera.
- Thousands of refugees have fled the conflict in the region.
- The company's CEO fled the country amid the corruption scandal.
- The once-loyal supporters began to flee the crumbling regime.
- He was accused of fleeing justice by hiding abroad for a decade.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FLEE sounds like 'fly' – think of someone needing to fly away quickly from danger.
Conceptual Metaphor
DANGER IS A PURSUER / SAFETY IS A DESTINATION (We flee *from* danger *to* safety).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'fly' (летать). 'Flee' – это убегать (спасаясь), а не просто 'бежать' (run).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'flee' without urgency (e.g., 'I fled the office at 5 pm' – too strong).
- Incorrect preposition: 'flee to danger' instead of 'flee from danger'.
- Confusing past tense 'fled' with 'flee'.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'flee' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the past simple and past participle of 'flee' is 'fled' (e.g., He fled yesterday. They have fled).
Yes. You can say 'flee the city' (transitive) or 'flee from the city' (intransitive with 'from'). Both are correct.
'Flee' focuses on the rapid action of running away. 'Escape' focuses on the successful result of getting free. You can flee without ultimately escaping.
It's less common in very casual chat. It's more frequent in written news, stories, or formal descriptions of rapid departure, often under threat.