flee
gb/flˈi/ us/flˈi/
B2
English
~ 6400
menekül, elmenekül, kitér, kibújik, elszáll, elillan, tovatűnik
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
to flee [a place/thing] (from [danger/threat])
Thousands of families were forced to flee the city as the fighting grew closer.
Ahogy a harcok egyre közelebb értek, családok ezrei kényszerültek elmenekülni a városból.
The suspect tried to flee the scene when he heard the police sirens.
A gyanúsított megpróbált elmenekülni a helyszínről, amikor meghallotta a rendőrszirénákat.
Villagers fled across the border to escape the advancing army.
Residents fled in terror as the wildfire swept toward their homes.
Learner examples
People fled the town when the storm came.
Az emberek elmenekültek a városból, amikor megérkezett a vihar.
The thief dropped the bag and fled the shop.
A tolvaj elejtette a táskát, és elmenekült az üzletből.
Many people fled the country because of the war.
They fled to the mountains to find safety.
Common mistake:
Learners often say *"flee from the country"* or *"flee away"*. In modern English, you usually say *"flee the country"* (no preposition) or *"flee from danger"*, but you do not add *"away"*. Also, *flee* is more formal than *run away* and is not normally used for small, everyday situations.
Meaning
Run away from danger or threat.
Collocations
flee the country
|flee the city
|flee the scene
|flee in terror
|flee for safety
|flee across the border
Synonyms
escape (More general; does not always suggest sudden running, and is slightly more common in everyday speech.)
|
run away (More informal and childlike; often used for shorter distances or less serious situations.)
|
evacuate (More formal and often used for organized leaving of a dangerous area, especially by authorities.)
Antonyms
stay (Opposite because it means not leaving the dangerous place.)
|
confront (Opposite in attitude; to face the danger or threat instead of running away from it.)
Themes
danger
|war
|crime
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To run away quickly from danger or from something that may hurt you.
To run away from a place, person, or situation because it is dangerous, violent, or threatening.
VERB
C1
2
Usage pattern:
to flee (from) [problem/responsibility/situation]
He has spent years fleeing responsibility instead of dealing with his debts.
Évek óta kitér a felelősség elől, ahelyett hogy rendezné a tartozásait.
Some politicians flee from difficult questions by changing the subject.
Egyes politikusok úgy térnek ki a nehéz kérdések elől, hogy témát váltanak.
She tried to flee the pressure of her job by moving to a smaller town.
You cannot flee your past forever; eventually you must face it.
Learner examples
You cannot flee your problems forever.
Nem menekülhetsz örökké a problémáid elől.
He fled responsibility and left his children alone.
Kibújt a felelősség alól, és magukra hagyta a gyerekeit.
She wants to flee from her stressful life.
Do not flee from hard work; it can help you grow.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *flee* with very light or casual problems, where *avoid* or *skip* would sound more natural. *Flee* suggests strong fear, pressure, or seriousness, even when used metaphorically. Also, both patterns *"flee responsibility"* and *"flee from responsibility"* are possible; *"flee responsibility"* is more concise and slightly more formal.
Meaning
Run away to avoid duties or problems.
Collocations
flee responsibility
|flee from problems
|flee from reality
|flee commitment
|flee the spotlight
Synonyms
avoid (More general and common; does not always suggest sudden movement or strong fear.)
|
shun (More formal/literary; suggests deliberately keeping away, often over a long time.)
|
run from (Informal; emphasizes emotional avoidance of problems or responsibility.)
Antonyms
face (Opposite because it means to deal with a problem or responsibility directly.)
|
confront (Stronger opposite; suggests actively meeting the problem or duty.)
Themes
emotions
|society
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
To get away from problems or duties instead of facing them.
To avoid dealing with responsibilities, problems, or unpleasant situations by getting away from them, sometimes only metaphorically.
VERB
C2
LITERARY
3
Usage pattern:
[time/feeling/quality] flees
As the years fled, he grew more aware of his own mortality.
Ahogy elszálltak az évek, egyre inkább tudatára ébredt saját halandóságának.
All hope fled her heart when she heard the verdict.
Amikor meghallotta az ítéletet, minden remény elszállt a szívéből.
Sleep fled his eyes as the memories came back.
Her courage fled at the sound of his angry voice.
Learner examples
In the story, hope fled the town after the war.
A történetben a háború után elillant a remény a városból.
The writer says that youth soon flees from us.
Az író szerint az ifjúság hamar elillan.
When the loud noise began, sleep fled his eyes.
In her poem, joy flees like a small bird.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use this sense in everyday conversation, where it sounds too poetic or old-fashioned. In normal speech, people say *"time passes quickly"* or *"my courage disappeared"*, not *"time flees"* or *"my courage fled"*.
Meaning
Disappear or pass quickly (literary).
Collocations
time flees
|hope fled
|sleep fled his eyes
|courage fled
|youth fled
Synonyms
vanish (Focuses on something disappearing suddenly, not necessarily quickly passing over time.)
|
pass quickly (More neutral phrase; lacks the poetic or dramatic tone of *flee*.)
Antonyms
linger (Opposite because it means to stay for a long time instead of disappearing quickly.)
|
remain (Neutral opposite; something continues instead of going away.)
Themes
time
|literature
|arts_entertainment
Definition
To say in a literary way that time or a feeling goes away or ends quickly.
Used figuratively, especially in literary style, to say that time, feelings, or qualities go away or pass quickly.
Grammar
Dictionary form
flee
IPA
GB/flˈi/
US/flˈi/
Syllables & stress
flee (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (flee)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: flee
- 3rd Person Singular: flees
- Present Participle: fleeing
- Past: fled
- Past Participle: fled
Word family
Forms
flees
verb
fleeing
verb
fled
verb
Core family
flight
noun A2
Highlights
- Irregular past: fled Verb
- Irregular past participle: fled Verb
Expressions
flee for one's life
1/flˈi fɚ wˈʌnz lˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
Run away to avoid being killed.
To run away as fast as you can because you are in great danger and may die.
Examples
- Villagers grabbed their children and fled for their lives as the lava moved closer.
- People fled for their lives when the gunfire started in the market.
- They had to flee for their lives after the dam broke.
flee the country
1/flˈi ðə kˈʌntɹi/
fixed phrase
Leave a country to escape danger.
To leave your country quickly because of war, danger, or fear of punishment.
Examples
- Many journalists were forced to flee the country after the coup.
- He tried to flee the country to avoid arrest.
- Thousands of families fled the country when the conflict began.
flee the scene
1/flˈi ðə sˈin/
fixed phrase
Run away from the place of an incident.
To leave the place where a crime or accident happened very quickly, usually to avoid police or responsibility.
Examples
- The driver fled the scene before anyone could record the license plate.
- Witnesses say the two men fled the scene on foot.
- After starting the fire, they fled the scene and hid in a nearby building.