Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense escapes, present participle escaping, past tense, past participle escaped
1. verb [no passive]
If you escapefrom a place, you succeed in getting away from it.
A prisoner has escaped from a jail in northern England. [VERB + from]
They are reported to have escaped to the other side of the border. [VERB + to]
He was fatally wounded as he tried to escape. [VERB]
Synonyms: get away, flee, take off, fly More Synonyms of escape
escapedadjective
Officers mistook Stephen for an escaped prisoner.
2. countable noun [usually poss NOUN]
Someone's escape is the act of escaping from a particular place or situation.
The man made his escape.
3. verb
You can say that you escape when you survive something such as an accident.
The two officers were extremely lucky to escape serious injury. [VERB noun]
The man's girlfriend managed to escape unhurt. [VERB adjective]
He narrowly escaped with his life when he was attacked by a bear. [VERB preposition]
Synonyms: avoid, miss, evade, dodge More Synonyms of escape
Escape is also a noun.
I hear you had a very narrow escape on the bridge.
4. countable noun [usually singular]
If something is an escape, it is a way of avoiding difficulties or responsibilities.
But for me television is an escape.
...an escape from the depressing realities of wartime. [+ from]
Synonyms: relaxation, relief, recreation, distraction More Synonyms of escape
5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You can use escape to describe things which allow you to avoid difficulties or problems. For example, an escape route is an activity or opportunity that lets you improve your situation. An escape clause is part of an agreement that allows you to avoid having to do something that youdo not want to do.
We all need the occasional escape route from the boring, routine aspects of our lives. [+ from]
This is a wonderful escape clause for dishonest employers everywhere. [+ for]
6. verb
If something escapes you or escapes your attention, you do not know about it, do not remember it, or do not notice it.
It was an actor whose name escapes me for the moment. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: be forgotten by, be beyond (someone), baffle, elude More Synonyms of escape
7. verb
When gas, liquid, or heat escapes, it comes out from a pipe, container, or place.
Leave a vent open to let some moist air escape. [VERB]
Synonyms: leak out, flow out, drain away, discharge More Synonyms of escape
8. See also fire escape
More Synonyms of escape
escape in British English
(ɪˈskeɪp)
verb
1.
to get away or break free from (confinements, captors, etc)
the lion escaped from the zoo
2.
to manage to avoid (imminent danger, punishment, evil, etc)
to escape death
3. (intransitive; usually foll byfrom)
(of gases, liquids, etc) to issue gradually, as from a crack or fissure; seep; leak
water was escaping from the dam
4. (transitive)
to elude; be forgotten by
the actual figure escapes me
5. (transitive)
to be articulated inadvertently or involuntarily
a roar escaped his lips
6. (intransitive)
(of cultivated plants) to grow wild
noun
7.
the act of escaping or state of having escaped
8.
avoidance of injury, harm, etc
a narrow escape
9.
a.
a means or way of escape
b.
(as modifier)
an escape route
10.
a means of distraction or relief, esp from reality or boredom
angling provides an escape for many city dwellers
11.
a gradual outflow; leakage; seepage
12. Also called: escape valve, escape cock
a valve that releases air, steam, etc, above a certain pressure; relief valve or safety valve
13.
a plant that was originally cultivated but is now growing wild
Derived forms
escapable (esˈcapable)
adjective
escaper (esˈcaper)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old Northern French escaper, from Vulgar Latin excappāre (unattested) to escape (literally: to remove one's cloak, hence free oneself), fromex-1 + Late Latin cappa cloak
escape in American English
(ɛˈskeɪp; ɪskeɪp)
verb intransitiveWord forms: esˈcaped or esˈcaping
1.
to get free; get away; get out; break loose, as from a prison
2.
to avoid an illness, accident, pain, etc.
two were injured, but he escaped
3.
to flow, drain, or leak away
gas escaping from a pipe
4.
to slip away; disappear
the image escaped from her memory
5. Botany
to grow wild, as a plant from a condition of cultivation
verb transitive
6.
to get away from; flee from
to escape pursuers
7.
to manage to keep away from; avoid
to escape punishment
8.
to come from involuntarily or unintentionally
a scream escaped from her lips
9.
to slip away from; be missed, unperceived, or forgotten by
his name escapes me
noun
10.
an act or instance or escaping
11.
the state of having escaped
12.
a means or way of escape
13.
an outward flow or leakage
14.
a temporary mental release from reality
movies are her escape
15. Botany
a garden plant growing wild
adjective
16.
giving temporary mental release from reality
17.
a.
making escape possible
an escape hatch
b.
giving a basis for evading or circumventing a claim, responsibility, etc.
an escape clause
SYNONYMY NOTE: escape, as compared here, implies a getting out of, a keeping away from, or simply a remainingunaffected by an impending or present danger, evil, confinement, etc. [to escape death, criticism, etc.]; to avoid is to make a conscious effort to keep clear of something undesirable or harmful [to avoid crowds during a flu epidemic]; to evade is to escape or avoid by artifice, cunning, adroitness, etc. [to evade pursuit, one's duty, etc.]; to elude is to escape the grasp of someone or something by artful or slippery dodges or becauseof a baffling quality [the criminal eluded the police; the meaning eluded him]
Derived forms
escapable (esˈcapable)
adjective
escaper (esˈcaper)
noun
Word origin
ME escapen < NormFr escaper, var. of eschaper < VL *excappare < L ex-, out of (see ex-1) + LL cappa, cloak (i.e., leave one's cloak behind)
Examples of 'escape' in a sentence
escape
There were also few reports of civilians using the ceasefire to escape the city.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So music and songwriting was my way of escaping my own feelings.
The Sun (2016)
We found an escape route from the impasse.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Yet that is only the stretch in which you are not allowed to escape.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He was lucky to escape serious injury.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The research suggests that employees tend to visit online shopping sites to stave off boredom and escape from work pressures.
Computing (2010)
It's a gorgeous getaway if you need a refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle.
The Sun (2016)
One of the prisoners who escaped from Pentonville prison was recaptured last night.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I am sure this will not have escaped the attention of her staff.
The Sun (2017)
That was just one of many Great Escapes.
The Sun (2016)
Venetians cheered from the rooftops as the docks burnt but the medieval city escaped damage.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We are all shackled to reality but free to dream of the great escape.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The properties of similar potential scandals that somehow escape attention are thus not studied.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This is a potent glimpse of the lure and the danger of magical escapes from adolescent reality.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She tried many times to escape without success.
The Sun (2016)
We will now explore these two escape routes.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
If air is trapped in the radiator it will escape through the valve and hiss.
The Sun (2010)
Yet there may be an escape clause for the research council.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Their houses are so built that the clammy air cannot escape.
Kishlansky, Mark A. (editor) Sources of the West: Readings in Western Civilization, Volume 1: From the Beginningto 1715 (1995)
His victims needed treatment but escaped serious injury.
The Sun (2012)
That it was a pragmatic approach designed to allow him to escape with his reputation intact.
The Sun (2012)
That really would be an amazing escape act.
The Sun (2015)
These people are willing to pay more than the expected loss to escape a risky situation.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
Two police vehicles were damaged by the mob and officers narrowly escaped injury.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The crews of stricken submarines were seldom granted an opportunity to escape.
Max Hastings Nemesis: The Battle for Japan, 194445 (2007)
Yet there is no escaping the fact that it is a practice that must be learned.
Jan Fennell, Foreword by Monty Roberts THE DOG LISTENER: Learning the Language of your Best Friend (2002)
The story is told in flashback to how she was captured trying to escape from the city.
The Sun (2014)
It would be the great flesh escape.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It is amazing that it has escaped the attention of mainstream tourism.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The best way to escape from a problem is to solve it.
Pete Cohen and Sten Cummins with Jennai Cox HABIT BUSTING: A 10-step plan that will change your life (2002)
This is a new emerging danger that has escaped our planners.
Abshire, David M. Preventing World War III - A Realistic Grand Strategy (1988)
The downside is that we often talked more about how to escape suffering than to be steadfast in it.
Christianity Today (2000)
Only a handful of prisoners escaped.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
He began writing comedy while he was working in a brewery and needed an escape from the boredom of moving barrels all day.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
escape
British English: escape /ɪˈskeɪp/ NOUN
Someone's escape is the act of getting away from a particular place or situation.
The man made his escape.
American English: escape
Arabic: هُرُوب
Brazilian Portuguese: fuga
Chinese: 逃跑
Croatian: bijeg
Czech: únik
Danish: flugt
Dutch: ontsnapping
European Spanish: huida
Finnish: pako
French: fuite évasion
German: Entkommen
Greek: απόδραση
Italian: fuga
Japanese: 逃亡
Korean: 탈출
Norwegian: flukt
Polish: ucieczka
European Portuguese: fuga
Romanian: evadare
Russian: спасение
Latin American Spanish: huida
Swedish: flykt
Thai: การหลบหนี
Turkish: kaçış
Ukrainian: втеча
Vietnamese: sự trốn thoát
British English: escape /ɪˈskeɪp/ VERB
If you escape from a place, you succeed in getting away from it.
A prisoner has escaped from a jail in northern England.
American English: escape
Arabic: يَفِرُّ
Brazilian Portuguese: escapar-se
Chinese: 逃避
Croatian: pobjeći
Czech: uprchnout
Danish: undslippe
Dutch: ontsnappen
European Spanish: escaparse
Finnish: paeta jostakin
French: fuir évasion
German: entkommen
Greek: δραπετεύω
Italian: fuggire
Japanese: 逃げる
Korean: 탈출하다
Norwegian: rømme
Polish: uciec
European Portuguese: escapar
Romanian: a evada
Russian: убежать
Latin American Spanish: escaparse huida
Swedish: fly
Thai: หลบหนี
Turkish: kaçmak
Ukrainian: втікати
Vietnamese: trốn thoát
All related terms of 'escape'
escape cock
a valve that releases air, steam , etc, above a certain pressure ; relief valve or safety valve
escape key
a key on a computer keyboard used to leave a computer-program sequence before its end, in order to commence another sequence
escape pipe
a pipe for overflowing water, escaping steam , etc
escape plan
a plan for escaping from a place
escape road
a road, usually ending in a pile of sand , provided on a hill for drivers to drive into if their brakes fail or on a bend if they lose control of the turn
escape room
An escape room is a room containing puzzles and games which you must solve in order to win or to get out of the room.
fire escape
A fire escape is a metal staircase on the outside of a building, which can be used to escape from the building if there is a fire.
escape artist
An escape artist is the same as an → escapologist .
escape chute
a fabric tube or chute hinged to the wall of a stairwell and used as an emergency exit , eg from a burning tall building
escape clause
a clause in a contract freeing one of the parties from his or her obligations in certain circumstances
escape death
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
escape device
a device with a collapsible extensible slide , used as an emergency exit , eg from a burning tall building
escape hatch
a means of escape in an emergency , esp from a submarine
escape route
a planned means of escape from a dangerous situation
escape shaft
a shaft in a mine through which miners can escape if the regular shaft is blocked
escape tunnel
A tunnel is a long passage which has been made under the ground, usually through a hill or under the sea.
escape valve
a valve that releases air, steam , etc, above a certain pressure; relief valve or safety valve
escape wheel
a toothed wheel that engages intermittently with a balance wheel or pendulum , causing the mechanism to oscillate and thereby moving the hands of a clock or watch
Great Escape
→ the Great Escape
escape poverty
Poverty is the state of being extremely poor .
escape routine
a means of leaving a computer-program sequence before its end, in order to commence another sequence
escape velocity
the minimum velocity that a body must have in order to escape from the gravitational field of the earth or other celestial body
escape violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
escape mechanism
any emotional or mental mechanism that enables a person to avoid acknowledging unpleasant or threatening realities
escape sb's notice
If something escapes your notice , you fail to recognize it or realize it.
the Great Escape
a film (1963) directed by John Sturges, written by James Clavell and W. R . Burnett , based on a book by Paul Brickhill, and starring Steve McQueen . It follows an attempt made by Allied prisoners of war to escape a German prisoner of war camp during World War II
scapewheel
a toothed wheel that engages intermittently with a balance wheel or pendulum , causing the mechanism to oscillate and thereby moving the hands of a clock or watch
narrow squeak
an escape only just managed
near squeak
an escape
escapologist
An escapologist is someone who entertains audiences by being tied up and placed in a dangerous situation, then escaping from it.
Chinese translation of 'escape'
escape
(ɪsˈkeɪp)
n
(c/u) (from prison) 逃跑 (táopǎo) (次, cì)
(from accident)
a narrow/lucky escape九死一生 (jiǔ sǐ yī shēng)
(c/u) (from person) 逃脱(脫) (táotuō) (次, cì)
(c) (fig) 逃避 (táobì) (个(個), gè)
⇒ Being made redundant turned out to be a lucky escape!被裁员证明是有幸溜走！ (Bèi cáiyuán zhèngmíng shì yǒuxìng liūzǒu!)
vi
(= get away) 逃走 (táozǒu)
(from jail) 逃跑 (táopǎo)
(from accident)
to escape unhurt安然逃脱(脫) (ānrán táotuō)
(= leak)[gas, liquid, heat]漏出 (lòuchū)
vt
[injury]避免 (bìmiǎn)
to escape from[place]从(從) ... 逃跑 (cóng ... táopǎo) [person]避开(開) (bìkāi)
to escape to (another place)逃往(某处(處)) (táowǎng (mǒuchù))
to escape to safety安全逃走 (ānrán táozǒu)
his name escapes me我想不起他的名字 (wǒ xiǎng bù qǐ tāde míngzì)
to escape sb's attention避开(開)某人的注意 (bìkāi mǒurén de zhùyì)
All related terms of 'escape'
fire escape
太平梯 tàipíngtī
to escape from
( place ) 从(從) ... 逃跑 cóng ... táopǎo
to escape unhurt
安然逃脱(脫) ānrán táotuō
to escape to safety
安全逃走 ānrán táozǒu
a narrow/lucky escape
九死一生 jiǔ sǐ yī shēng
to escape sb's notice
躲过(過)某人的注意 duǒguo mǒurén de zhùyì
to escape sb's attention
避开(開)某人的注意 bìkāi mǒurén de zhùyì
to escape without injury
安然脱(脫)险(險) ānrán tuōxiǎn
to escape/avoid detection
( criminal ) 逃之夭夭 táo zhī yāo yāo
to have a lucky escape
侥(僥)幸(倖)逃脱(脫) jiǎoxìng táotuō
to have a narrow escape
勉强(強)逃脱(脫) miǎnqiǎng táotuō
desperately trying to escape
拼命逃窜(竄) pīnmìng táocuàn
to escape to (another place)
逃往(某处(處)) táowǎng (mǒuchù)
1 (verb)
Definition
to get away or break free from (confinement)
A prisoner has escaped from a jail in Northern England.
Synonyms
get away
They tried to stop him but he got away.
flee
He slammed the bedroom door behind him and fled.
take off
He took off at once and headed home.
fly
I'll have to fly.
bolt
They caught the horse 200 yards from where it had bolted.
skip
slip away
He slipped away in the early hours to exile in France.
abscond
A dozen inmates have absconded from the jail in the past year.
decamp
Bugsy decided to decamp to Hollywood from New York.
hook it (slang)
do a runner (slang)
The accountant did a runner.
do a bunk (British, slang)
fly the coop (US, Canadian, informal)
make a break for it
slip through your fingers
skedaddle (informal)
take a powder (US, Canadian, slang)
make your getaway
take it on the lam (US, Canadian, slang)
break free or out
make or effect your escape
run away or off
do a Skase (Australian, informal)
2 (verb)
Definition
to manage to avoid (something dangerous, unpleasant, or difficult)
He was lucky to escape serious injury.
Synonyms
avoid
He had ample time to swerve and avoid the hedgehog.
miss
We left early, hoping to miss the worst of the traffic.
evade
He managed to evade the police for six months.
dodge
Thieves dodged the security system in the shop.
shun
From that time forward everybody shunned him.
elude
The thieves managed to elude the police for months.
duck (informal)
He had ducked the confrontation.
steer clear of
circumvent (formal)
Military rulers tried to circumvent the treaty.
body-swerve
3 (verb)
Definition
to elude
an actor whose name escapes me for the moment
Synonyms
be forgotten by
be beyond (someone)
baffle
An apple tree producing square fruit is baffling experts.
elude
The appropriate word eluded him.
puzzle
What puzzles me is why nobody has complained before now.
stump
Well, maybe I stumped you on that one.
4 (verb)
Definition
(of gases, liquids, etc.) to leak gradually
Leave a vent open to let some of the moist air escape.
Synonyms
leak out
flow out
drain away
discharge
The resulting salty water will be discharged at sea.
gush out
emanate
seep out
exude
Nearby was a factory which exuded a pungent smell.
spurt out
spill out
pour forth
1 (noun)
Definition
the act of escaping or state of having escaped
He made his escape from the country.
Synonyms
getaway
The thieves made their getaway on a stolen motorcycle.
break
flight
his secret flight into exile
break-out
bolt
a bolt for freedom
decampment
2 (noun)
Definition
a way of avoiding something difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant
his narrow escape from bankruptcy
Synonyms
avoidance
evasion
an evasion of responsibility
circumvention
elusion
3 (noun)
Definition
a means of relaxation or relief
For me television is an escape.
Synonyms
relaxation
You should be able to find the odd moment for relaxation.
relief
a self-help programme which can give lasting relief
recreation
Saturday afternoon is for recreation and outings.
distraction
every conceivable distraction from shows to bouncy castles
diversion
Finger-painting is an excellent diversion.
pastime
His favourite pastime is golf.
4 (noun)
Definition
a leakage of gas or liquid
You should report any suspected gas escape immediately.
Synonyms
leak
It's thought a gas leak may have caused the blast.
emission
the emission of gases such as carbon dioxide
discharge
They develop a fever and a watery discharge from the eyes.
outpouring
gush
I heard a gush of water.
spurt
outflow
an outflow of fresh water from a river
leakage
drain
seepage
The industry's chemical seepage has caused untold damage.
issue
emanation
The human body is surrounded by an aura of infrared emanations.
efflux
effluence
outpour
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abscond
Definition
to run away unexpectedly
A dozen inmates have absconded from the jail in the past year.
Synonyms
escape,
flee,
get away,
bolt,
fly,
disappear,
skip,
run off,
slip away,
clear out,
flit (informal),
make off,
break free or out,
decamp,
hook it (slang),
do a runner (slang),
steal away,
sneak away,
do a bunk (British, slang),
fly the coop (US, Canadian, informal),
skedaddle (informal),
take a powder (US, Canadian, slang),
go on the lam (US, Canadian, slang),
make your getaway,
do a Skase (Australian, informal),
make or effect your escape
in the sense of baffle
Definition
to perplex
An apple tree producing square fruit is baffling experts.
Synonyms
puzzle,
beat (slang),
amaze,
confuse,
stump,
bewilder,
astound,
elude,
confound,
perplex,
disconcert,
mystify,
flummox,
boggle the mind of,
dumbfound
in the sense of bolt
Definition
(of a horse) to run away without control
They caught the horse 200 yards from where it had bolted.