fled
ˈfled 
; fleeing
; fleeing
1
a
: to run away often from danger or evil : fly
The family fled from the war-torn zone.
b
: to hurry toward a place of security
Refugees fled to a neighboring country.
2
: to pass away swiftly : vanish
mists fleeing before the rising sun
: to run away from : shun
Many people fled the city to escape the fighting.
Synonyms
Examples of flee in a Sentence
The family fled from Nazi Germany to Britain in 1936.
He was accused of trying to flee the scene of the accident.
Many people fled the city to escape the fighting.
He was forced to flee the country.
Recent Examples on the Web
The man with the knife then flees on foot while the driver of the silver SUV returns to his vehicle and is shown on video apparently attempting to run over the other man.
—
Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2024
New Yorkers also fled the state for Pennsylvania, Texas, North Carolina and Georgia, according to the data.
—Christian Wade | The Center Square Contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 July 2024
The area brimmed with historical lore: During Prohibition, entertainment industry bad boys and wealthy Angelenos snuck away here to blow off steam; over the decades Hollywood luminaries like Billy Wilder, Walt Disney, and Charlie Chaplin fled the limelight to secluded canyon hangouts.
—Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 2 July 2024
Carl’s father, Zelig Fletcher, fled to New York from Poland in 1942, with nothing to his name but a formula for polystyrene and the knowledge that, for Jews like him, money and family could disappear with no warning.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 1 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for flee 
Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2024
New Yorkers also fled the state for Pennsylvania, Texas, North Carolina and Georgia, according to the data.
—Christian Wade | The Center Square Contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 July 2024
The area brimmed with historical lore: During Prohibition, entertainment industry bad boys and wealthy Angelenos snuck away here to blow off steam; over the decades Hollywood luminaries like Billy Wilder, Walt Disney, and Charlie Chaplin fled the limelight to secluded canyon hangouts.
—Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 2 July 2024
Carl’s father, Zelig Fletcher, fled to New York from Poland in 1942, with nothing to his name but a formula for polystyrene and the knowledge that, for Jews like him, money and family could disappear with no warning.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 1 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for flee
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flee.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near flee
Cite this Entry
“Flee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flee. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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