escape
gb/ɪskˈeɪp/ us/ɪskˈeɪp/
A2
English
~ 1800
elmenekül, kiszabadul, megszökik, elkerül, megúszik, szökés, kiszabadulás, menekülés, kiút, menekülőút, tűzlépcső, kikapcsolódás, menedék
VERB
A2
1
Usage pattern:
to escape from [a place/situation]
The prisoners managed to escape from their cells during the night.
A raboknak sikerült éjszaka megszökniük a celláikból.
She escaped from the burning building just in time.
Éppen időben sikerült kimenekülnie az égő épületből.
He tried to escape the police by hiding in a warehouse.
The dog escaped from the backyard through a hole in the fence.
Learner examples
The man escaped from the room.
A férfi kiszabadult a szobából.
The cat escaped from the box.
A macska kiszabadult a dobozból.
She escaped from the fire.
They escaped from the police.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'escape' with 'run away'; 'escape' often implies breaking free from confinement or danger, not just leaving quickly.
Meaning
Get free from confinement or danger
Collocations
escape from prison
|escape capture
|escape danger
|escape unharmed
Synonyms
flee (Implies running away quickly, often from danger.)
Antonyms
surrender (Means to give oneself up to control, the opposite of breaking free.)
Themes
crime
|safety
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
To get away from a place or situation where you are not free or safe.
To break free from physical confinement or avoid something dangerous or unpleasant.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
to escape [something unpleasant]
He narrowly escaped serious injury in the crash.
Csak hajszálon múlt, de súlyos sérülés nélkül megúszta a balesetet.
She escaped punishment because of her young age.
Fiatal kora miatt megúszta a büntetést.
They managed to escape blame for the mistake.
Learner examples
I escaped the rain by staying inside.
Bent maradtam, így megúsztam az esőt.
He escaped trouble at school.
Elkerülte a bajt az iskolában.
She escaped a bad grade this time.
Common mistake:
Learners may use 'escape from' incorrectly here; when talking about avoiding something bad, 'from' is usually not used.
Meaning
Avoid an unpleasant situation
Collocations
escape punishment
|escape injury
|escape criticism
Synonyms
evade (Often implies deliberate avoidance, sometimes secretly.)
Antonyms
face (Means to confront directly instead of avoiding.)
Themes
daily life
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
To not have to face something bad or unwanted.
To succeed in not having to experience something unpleasant, harmful, or undesirable.
NOUN
A2
3
The prisoners planned their escape for months.
A rabok hónapokig tervezték a szökésüket.
She made a daring escape through the back door.
A hátsó ajtón át merész szökést hajtott végre.
It was a narrow escape from serious injury.
Learner examples
The man made an escape from jail.
A férfi megszökött a börtönből.
It was a narrow escape from the fire.
Épphogy sikerült megmenekülni a tűz elől.
The escape happened at night.
Meaning
Act of getting free from danger
Collocations
make an escape
|narrow escape
|prison escape
Synonyms
breakout (Informal term often used for escaping prison.)
Antonyms
capture (Means being caught, the opposite of getting free.)
Themes
crime
|safety
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
The act of getting away from a place or situation where you are not free or safe.
The act of breaking free from confinement, danger, or control.
NOUN
A2
4
The building has two fire escapes on each floor.
Az épület minden emeletén két tűzlépcső van.
We need to find an escape before they catch us.
Találnunk kell egy kiutat, mielőtt elkapnak minket.
The only escape was through a small window.
Learner examples
The fire escape is outside.
A tűzlépcső az épületen kívül van.
We need an escape from here.
Kiutat kell találnunk innen.
There is no escape in this room.
Meaning
Way of getting free from danger
Collocations
fire escape
|emergency escape
|escape route
Synonyms
exit (A way out, though not always implying danger.)
Antonyms
trap (A situation or device that prevents someone from leaving.)
Themes
safety
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A way to get out of a place or situation where you are not free or safe.
A route, method, or means of breaking free from confinement or danger.
NOUN
B1
5
Reading novels is my favorite escape from daily stress.
A regényolvasás a kedvenc kikapcsolódásom, amellyel kiszakadhatok a mindennapi stresszből.
For him, painting was an escape into another world.
Számára a festés menekülést jelentett egy másik világba.
Many people see travel as an escape from reality.
Learner examples
Music is my escape from stress.
A zene számomra menedék a stressz elől.
Games are an escape for children.
A játékok kikapcsolódást jelentenek a gyerekeknek.
Travel is an escape for many people.
Meaning
Temporary relief from problems
Collocations
a welcome escape
|an escape into fantasy
|seek an escape
Synonyms
distraction (Something that turns attention away from worries.)
Antonyms
confrontation (Facing problems directly instead of avoiding them.)
Themes
emotions
|lifestyle
|daily_life
Definition
Something you do to stop thinking about your problems for a short time.
An activity, place, or experience that helps someone forget their problems for a while.
Grammar
Dictionary form
escape
IPA
GB/ɪskˈeɪp/
US/ɪskˈeɪp/
Syllables & stress
es - cape (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cape)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: escape
- Plural: escape, escapes
Verb
- Base: escape
- 3rd Person Singular: escapes
- Present Participle: escaping
- Past: escaped
Word family
Forms
escapes
noun
escaping
verb
escaped
verb
Related words
escapee
noun
escapism
noun
escapist
noun
Negative and opposite forms
inescapable
adjective
Advanced or less common
inescapably
adverb
Expressions
escape unscathed
1/ɪskˈeɪp ʌnskˈeɪðd/
fixed phrase
Get through danger without harm
To not be hurt in a dangerous situation.
Examples
- She escaped unscathed from the accident.
- The soldiers escaped unscathed after the battle.
fire escape
1/fˈaɪɚ ɪskˈeɪp/
fixed phrase
Outdoor stairs for fire evacuation
A set of stairs outside a building used to leave quickly if there is a fire.
Examples
- The apartment had a fire escape on each floor.
- They climbed down the fire escape during the drill.
make one's escape
1/mˈeɪk wˈʌnz ɪskˈeɪp/
fixed phrase
Succeed in getting away safely
To get away safely from a place where you are not free or safe.
Examples
- The thief made his escape through the alley.
- They made their escape before the guards returned.
narrow escape
1/nˈɛɹoʊ ɪskˈeɪp/
fixed phrase
Almost harmed but avoided it
When someone almost gets hurt but does not in the end.
Examples
- It was a narrow escape when the car almost hit her.
- He had a narrow escape after falling into the river.
escape from reality
1/ɪskˈeɪp fɹˈʌm ɹiˈæləti/
fixed phrase
Avoid thinking about real life problems
To stop thinking about real life problems by doing or imagining something else.
Examples
- Some people watch movies to escape from reality.
- Vacations can help us escape from reality for a while.
escape from reality
2/ɪskˈeɪp fɹˈʌm ɹiˈæləti/
fixed phrase
Avoid real life
To avoid thinking about real problems by doing something different or imaginary.
Examples
- Books are a way for her to escape from reality.
- Some people use games to escape from reality.