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es·cape
 escape
- pronunciation:
- ih
skeIp
- parts of speech:
- intransitive verb, transitive verb, noun
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| inflections: |
escaped, escapes, escaping |
| definition 1: |
to free oneself from physical confinement.
Two prisoners escaped from the prison during the night.I tried to close the door quickly, but the cat escaped.- synonyms:
- flee, fly the coop, run
- similar words:
- abscond, bolt, clear out, dash, depart, exit, scram, skedaddle, slip away
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| definition 2: |
to avoid capture or other danger; get away.
Though roadblocks were set up, the criminal escaped.The house was on fire, but the family was able to escape.- similar words:
- abscond, dodge, duck, evade, parry, run
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| definition 3: |
to leak out, as a fluid or gas.
The gas was able to escape because the seal was not tight.- synonyms:
- issue, leak
- similar words:
- emanate, flow, gush, seep, spill, spurt, stream
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| related words: |
break, exhaust, flee, skip, slide, slip, vent |
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| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| definition 1: |
to get away from; avoid; evade.
Some people are able to escape punishment for their crimes.- synonyms:
- avoid, elude, evade, flee, slip
- similar words:
- abandon, break, depart, desert, dodge, exit, leave, miss, shake, shun, skirt
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| definition 2: |
to elude (recollection or notice).
Fortunately, the insult escaped his notice.- synonyms:
- elude
- similar words:
- evade, miss, slip
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| definition 3: |
to slip out from by mistake, as a remark or comment.
The remark escaped my lips before I could reconsider.- synonyms:
- leak out from, slip
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| related words: |
cheat, circumvent |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
the act or an instance of freeing oneself or escaping from physical confinement.
Escape from such a prison was thought to be impossible.- synonyms:
- extrication, flight, getaway
- similar words:
- break, breakout, departure, exodus, jailbreak, release, runaway
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| definition 2: |
avoidance of, or a way in which to avoid, an unpleasant or harmful event or situation.
Her escape from committee duties allowed her more time with her family.The patient had suffered so much that he saw death as an escape.As soon as he arrives at these dreaded social functions, he starts planning his escape.- synonyms:
- avoidance, deliverance, extrication, freedom
- similar words:
- getaway, liberation, release
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| definition 3: |
a way to avoid reality.
The movies are a good escape.- synonyms:
- diversion
- similar words:
- amusement, avoidance, delusion, distraction, evasion, illusion
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| definition 4: |
a means of getting away from something harmful.
Most apartment buildings are equipped with a fire escape.- synonyms:
- egress, exit
- similar words:
- opening, outlet
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| related words: |
egress, exit |
| derivations: |
escapable (adj.), escaper (n.) |
Escape comes from an early French word that means "to leave one's cape behind," which can happen when one is in a hurry.
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