flee

flee — verb

1. to get away from a dangerous situation or from a person or animal that might hur

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to get away from a dangerous situation or from a person or animal that might hurt you, usually by running

例句

The villagers fled their homes when the floodwaters began to rise.

transitive: flee + place (homes / the country / the city)

A security guard saw two men flee from the bank after the alarm went off.

intransitive: flee from + location

同義詞
  • run away

    less formal and more general; does not necessarily involve danger

  • escape

    focuses on successfully getting free from confinement or a threat

  • take flight

    more literary or dramatic; implies a sudden, urgent departure

反義詞
  • stay

    remain in a place instead of leaving

  • confront

    face the danger rather than running from it

文法句型

flee + noun phrase (place or danger)

flee from + noun phrase (person, animal, or danger)

flee + prepositional phrase (direction or destination)

用法筆記

Frequently used with a place or location as the direct object (flee the scene, flee the city) or with 'from' to specify the threat. The past tense and past participle are 'fled' — do not confuse with 'fly/flew/flown.'

常見錯誤

❌The cat filed from the dog.
✅The cat fled from the dog.
💡'flee' is irregular: flee → fled → fled, not 'filed.'
❌The witness flew the courtroom.
✅The witness fled the courtroom.
💡'flew' is the past tense of 'fly,' not 'flee.'

2. to leave your home country for another country because your life is in danger, f

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to leave your home country for another country because your life is in danger, for example from war, violence, or unfair treatment

例句

Thousands of families fled the country after the civil war broke out.

collocation: flee the country

The journalist fled to a neighbouring country to avoid arrest by the secret police.

flee + to + destination country

同義詞
  • escape

    broader meaning; can apply to any threatening situation, not just leaving a country

  • seek refuge

    emphasises the search for safety rather than the act of leaving

反義詞
  • return

    go back to one's home country

  • repatriate

    be sent back to one's country of origin

文法句型

flee + country / nation / homeland

flee to + destination country

flee from + country of origin

flee + across / over + border

用法筆記

The direct object is typically a country or region. Unlike 'emigrate,' which suggests a planned, voluntary move, this sense always implies that danger or persecution forced the departure.

常見錯誤

❌They emigrated the war zone.
✅They fled the war zone.
💡'emigrate' means to move to another country by choice; 'flee' means to leave quickly because of danger.