MEANING
To leave or run away from danger, persecution, or something experienced as threatening.
Use it for
escape journeys; retreat from immediate harmFocus on separation from the threat rather than the mechanics of running.
Words that belong together
- flee the scene
- flee from danger
- flee persecution
On the page
The family fled the flooded district in a borrowed truck.
He fled from the dog into the nearest shop.
Many residents refused to flee until the last neighbor had a ride.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- flee / flees
- Third-person present
- flees
- Past tense
- fled
- Past participle
- fled
- Present participle
- fleeing
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- flee / flees / flees
- Present continuous
- am/is/are fleeing
- Present perfect
- have/has fled
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been fleeing
- Past
- fled
- Past continuous
- was/were fleeing
- Past perfect
- had fled
- Past perfect continuous
- had been fleeing
- Future
- will flee / flees
- Future continuous
- will be fleeing
- Future perfect
- will have fled
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been fleeing
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Primary category: fear. Names escape without specifying speed, posture, or panic. Can take a place or threat directly, or use flee from. Verb forms (base, third-person singular, past, past participle, -ing): flee, flees, fled, fled, fleeing.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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