/ fliː; NAmE / verb
( fled , fled / fled; NAmE /) [ no passive ] flee (from) sb/sth | flee (to ... / into ... ) to leave a person or place very quickly, especially because you are afraid of possible danger :
[ v ]
a camp for refugees fleeing from the war
He fled to London after an argument with his family.
She burst into tears and fled.
[ vn ]
He was caught trying to flee the country.
—compare fly verb (12)
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English flēon , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vlieden and German fliehen .