Flee meansshows the meaning of a word or phrase to run away quickly, especially to escape danger or a threateningsuggesting danger or harm may happen soon situation. It is a formalappropriate for serious, official, or carefully polished language word, often used in serious or dramatic contexts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /fli/
Easy pronunciation: FLEE (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable, so the full word is stressed.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Flee Meaning
to escape by running away
Part of speech: verb
Definition: run away quickly to escape danger or trouble
Example: The children fled when they heard the storm siren.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- fly — Used in formal or literary English for escaping quickly, though less common in everyday speech.
- take flight — Works as a phrase meaning to run away quickly, but is more literary than flee.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Flee Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- fly
- take flight
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse flee with flee from something in casual speech; the base verb already means to escape.
- Do not use flee for ordinary travel or leaving a place without the idea of escape.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does flee mean?
Flee means to run away quickly in order to escape danger, pursuit, or a bad situation.
What are common synonyms of flee?
Common synonyms include fly and take flight, though both are more formal or literary than everyday words.
Is flee formal?
Yes. Flee is usually more formal than words like run away or escape.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.