Flee Meaning
/ˈfliː/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo run away; to escape.
verbTo escape from.
Sentence Examples
Hope is the last thing that man has to flee unto.
Flee ever so fast, you cannot flee your fortune.
Many refugees have been forced to flee their homeland.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
People living near the volcano had to ____ their homes quickly before the eruption.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Many people were forced to ____ their homes due to the rapidly approaching and dangerous forest fire.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English flen, from Old English flēon, from Proto-West Germanic *fleuhan, from Proto-Germanic *fleuhaną, from Proto-Indo-European *plewk-, *plew- (“to fly, flow, run”). Cognate with Dutch vlieden, German fliehen, Icelandic flýja, Swedish fly, Gothic 𐌸𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌷𐌰𐌽 (þliuhan). Within English, related to fly and more distantly to flow.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bolde as a lyon."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 28:1:
"As they turned into Hertford Street they startled a robin from the poet's head on a barren fountain, and he fled away with a cameo note."
— 1922, Michael Arlen, “Ep./4/2”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days:
"When, however, the plant spirits were not strong enough in themselves, then the family called in the Medicine Man. He appeared, a "monster of so frightful mien", with noise making apparatus which produced such a terrifying din that even the hardiest demon was likely to flee."
— 1940, Rosetta E. Clarkson, Green Enchantments: The Magic Spell of Gardens, The Macmillan Company, page 254:
"Huntingdon's ferocity makes the reaction of staff all the more brave. To move towards danger when others are fleeing is the definition of bravery in my book. To place yourself in danger to protect others."
— 2025 November 12, Philip Haigh, “High praise for rail staff's courage and clear thinking”, in RAIL, number 1048, page 50:
"The Government, having lit the fuse, is not going to be allowed to flee the explosion."
— 1962 October, “Talking of Trains: Passed to you, Mr. Macmillan”, in Modern Railways, page 220:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
People living near the volcano had to ____ their homes quickly before the eruption.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Many people were forced to ____ their homes due to the rapidly approaching and dangerous forest fire.