If you take refuge somewhere, you try to protect yourself from physical harm by going there.
They took refuge in a bomb shelter.
His home became a place of refuge for the believers.
Synonyms: protection, security, shelter, harbour More Synonyms of refuge
2. countable noun
A refuge is a place where you go for safety and protection, for example from violence or from bad weather.
...a refuge for women who had experienced domestic abuse.
We climbed up a winding track towards a mountain refuge.
Synonyms: haven, resort, retreat, harbour More Synonyms of refuge
3. uncountable noun
If you take refugein a particular way of behaving or thinking, you try to protect yourself from unhappiness or unpleasantness by behaving or thinkingin that way.
With these restrictions on childhood it's no wonder kids seek refuge in consumerism.
Father Rowan took refuge in silence.
Synonyms: solace, relief, comfort More Synonyms of refuge
refuge in British English
(ˈrɛfjuːdʒ)
noun
1.
shelter or protection, as from the weather or danger
2.
any place, person, action, or thing that offers or appears to offer protection, help, or relief
accused of incompetence, he took refuge in lying
3.
another name for traffic island
verb
4. archaic
to take refuge or give refuge to
Word origin
C14: via Old French from Latin refugium, from refugere to flee away, from re- + fugere to escape
refuge in American English
(ˈrɛfjudʒ)
noun
1.
shelter or protection from danger, difficulty, etc.
2.
a person or thing that gives shelter, help, or comfort
3.
a place of safety; shelter; safe retreat
4.
an expediency or shift; action taken to escape trouble or difficulty
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈrefuged or ˈrefuging
5. Archaic
to give refuge to
verb intransitive
6. Archaic
to take refuge
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈshelter
Word origin
OFr < L refugium < refugere, to retreat < re-, back + fugere, to flee: see fugitive
Examples of 'refuge' in a sentence
refuge
They had many opportunities to seek refuge, sleep in a proper bed and eat decent food.
The Sun (2016)
She ensures this comedy doesn't stray too far from the troublesome emotions from which the other characters are seeking refuge.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When the worst does occur, actors can always take refuge in the fact that the stage managers are on hand to rectify matters.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
NEARLY 70 per cent of domestic violence refuges could close under Government plans to cap housing benefit.
The Sun (2016)
Stay in local guesthouses and mountain refuges.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We have become the last refuge of prejudice.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It was their only place of refuge.
Christianity Today (2000)
For a few days his home was our refuge from the murder.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The human mind seeks refuge always in the security of the known.
Crowley, Vivianne Phoenix From the Flame (1994)
Details for staffed mountain refuges are listed on the maps.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
These extreme heels are the last refuge of the fashion snob.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Why do we give refuge to all our enemies?
The Sun (2015)
They had sheltered in a refuge.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Give me a refuge from violence?
The Sun (2012)
Throughout the history of humankind, caves have provided refuge and shelter.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
To avoid confusing her, it seemed best to take refuge in sleep once more.
Edward Beauclerk Maurice THE LAST OF THE GENTLEMEN ADVENTURERS: Coming of Age in the Arctic (2004)
If you can't contribute then please seek other refuge.
The Sun (2013)
The survivors find refuge in a mountain hotel and members of the group begin to be found shot dead in the ice outside.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
So picky are this couple that he fumes to the camera and finds refuge in tagging along with Kirstie.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Before then there were certainly refugees - people driven by war or persecution to leave their homes and seek refuge abroad.
Bramwell, Anna C Refugees in the Age of Total War (1988)
When the regime launched its first attacks in February the hospital became a rallying point for those taking refuge from the violence.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Egypt's legal system: refuge in a storm?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The call was made after allegations that Chinese forces had shot at Vietnamese fishermen as they sought refuge from a storm.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
refuge
British English: refuge /ˈrɛfjuːdʒ/ NOUN
If you take refuge somewhere, you try to protect yourself from physical harm by going there.
They took refuge in a shelter.
American English: refuge
Arabic: مَلْجَأ
Brazilian Portuguese: refúgio
Chinese: 庇护
Croatian: utočište
Czech: útočiště
Danish: tilflugtssted
Dutch: toevluchtsoord
European Spanish: refugio
Finnish: turvapaikka
French: refuge
German: Zuflucht
Greek: καταφύγιο
Italian: rifugio
Japanese: 避難所
Korean: 피난처
Norwegian: tilflukt
Polish: schronienie
European Portuguese: refúgio
Romanian: refugiu
Russian: убежище
Latin American Spanish: refugio
Swedish: tillflykt
Thai: ที่หลบภัย
Turkish: sığınak
Ukrainian: притулок
Vietnamese: nơi trú ẩn
Chinese translation of 'refuge'
refuge
(ˈrɛfjuːdʒ)
n
(u) (= source of protection) 庇护(護) (bìhù)
(c) (= hut) 庇护(護)所 (bìhùsuǒ)
(c) (= safe house) 避难(難)所 (bìnànsuǒ) (个(個), gè)
to seek or take refuge in silence/drink从(從)缄(緘)默/饮(飲)酒中寻(尋)求慰藉 (cóng jiānmò/yǐnjiǔ zhōng xúnqiú wèijiè)
1 (noun)
Definition
shelter or protection from danger or hardship
They took refuge in a bomb shelter.
Synonyms
protection
Innocence is no protection from the evils in our society.
security
He could not remain long in a place of security.
shelter
the hut where they were given food and shelter
harbour
a safe harbour for music rejected by the mainstream
asylum
They applied for asylum after fleeing their home country.
sanctuary
Some of them have sought sanctuary in the church.
2 (noun)
Definition
a place, person, or thing that offers protection or help
We climbed up a winding track towards a mountain refuge.
Synonyms
haven
a real haven at the end of a busy working day
resort
a genteel resort on the south coast
retreat
He spent yesterday in his country retreat.
harbour
The ship was allowed to tie up in the harbour.
sanctuary
hideaway
The bandits fled to a remote mountain hideaway.
hide-out
Police raided a house used as the movement's hideout.
bolt hole
place of safety
3 (noun)
Definition
a place, person, or thing that offers protection or help
Father Rowan took refuge in silence.
Synonyms
solace
I found solace in writing when my father died.
relief
The news will come as a great relief.
comfort
I tried to find some words of comfort to offer her.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of asylum
Definition
refuge granted to a political refugee from a foreign country
They applied for asylum after fleeing their home country.
Synonyms
refuge,
security,
haven,
safety,
protection,
preserve,
shelter,
retreat,
harbour,
sanctuary
in the sense of comfort
Definition
relief from suffering or grief
I tried to find some words of comfort to offer her.
Synonyms
consolation,
cheer,
encouragement,
succour,
help,
support,
aid,
relief,
ease,
compensation,
alleviation
in the sense of harbour
Definition
a place of refuge or safety
a safe harbour for music rejected by the mainstream
Synonyms
sanctuary,
haven,
shelter,
retreat,
asylum,
refuge,
oasis,
covert,
safe haven,
sanctum
Synonyms of 'refuge'
refuge
Explore 'refuge' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of harbour
Definition
a sheltered port
The ship was allowed to tie up in the harbour.
Synonyms
port,
haven,
dock,
mooring,
marina,
pier,
wharf,
anchorage,
jetty,
pontoon,
slipway
in the sense of hide-out
Definition
a hiding place
Police raided a house used as the movement's hideout.
Synonyms
hiding place,
shelter,
den,
hideaway,
lair,
secret place
in the sense of hideaway
Definition
a hiding place or secluded spot
The bandits fled to a remote mountain hideaway.
Synonyms
hiding place,
haven,
retreat,
refuge,
sanctuary,
hide-out,
nest,
sequestered nook
in the sense of relief
Definition
the projection of a carved design from the surface
The news will come as a great relief.
Synonyms
ease,
release,
comfort,
cure,
remedy,
solace,
balm,
deliverance,
mitigation,
abatement,
alleviation,
easement,
palliation,
assuagement
in the sense of resort
Definition
a place to which many people go for holidays
a genteel resort on the south coast
Synonyms
holiday centre,
spot,
retreat,
haunt,
refuge,
tourist centre,
watering place (British)
in the sense of retreat
Definition
a place to which one may retire, esp. for religious contemplation
He spent yesterday in his country retreat.
Synonyms
refuge,
haven,
resort,
retirement,
shelter,
haunt,
asylum,
privacy,
den,
sanctuary,
hideaway,
seclusion
in the sense of sanctuary
Definition
refuge or safety
Some of them have sought sanctuary in the church.
Synonyms
protection,
shelter,
refuge,
haven,
retreat,
asylum
in the sense of security
Definition
the state of being free from danger, damage, or worry