flee Meaning, Definition & Usage

Flee intransitive verb

Etymology

OE. fleon, fleen, AS. fleón (imperf. fleáh); akin to D. vlieden, OHG. & OS. fliohan, G. fliehen, Icel. flja (imperf. fli), Dan. flye, Sw. fly (imperf. flydde), Goth. pliuhan. () 84. Cf. Flight.

Wordforms

imperfect & past participle Fled ; present participle & verbal noun Fleeing

Definitions

1. To run away, as from danger or evil; to avoid in an alarmed or cowardly manner; to hasten off; -- usually with from. This is sometimes omitted, making the verb transitive.

   [He] cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke. Shak.

   Flee fornication. 1 Cor. vi. 18.

   So fled his enemies my warlike father. Shak.

   ✍ When great speed is to be indicated, we commonly use fly, not flee; as, fly hence to France with the utmost speed. "Whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands?" Shak. See Fly, v. i., 5.