flight.

Escape or rapid withdrawal from danger or pursuit.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• take flight
• put someone to flight
• flight from danger

On the page

Their flight from the flood began before dawn.

At the crash of the gate, the herd took flight.

The diary records a difficult flight from persecution rather than a military campaign.

Usage notes

Primary category: fear. The escape sense is selected, not air travel or a staircase. It may be organized and rational rather than panicked. Usually uncountable in this sense. Count plural: flights.