I. ˈflē verb
( fled ˈfled ; fled ; fleeing ; flees )
Etymology: Middle English flen, from Old English flēon; akin to Old High German fliohan to flee, Old Norse flȳja, Gothic thliuhan to flee, and probably to Old English flēogan to fly — more at fly
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to run away from or as if from danger or evil : hasten off
cowards fleeing before a revolution — R.W.Emerson
a person … who shall flee from justice — U.S. Constitution
b. : to hurry toward a source of security or protection — used with to or into
he fled back to the shelter of his cab — Osbert Sitwell
the survivors fled into the wilderness
2. : to pass away swiftly : vanish
mists fleeing before the rising sun
the truck was gathering speed … and the fields were fleeing past in the twilight — Kay Boyle
3. archaic : fly , speed
the arrow fled from the bow
transitive verb
1.
a. : to run away from : endeavor to avoid (as a threatened danger) or escape from (as an adversary)
heard her fleeing his approach — T.B.Costain
the lowlanders were fleeing the rising waters
b. : shun , avoid , evade
governments long in office are not inclined to flee party and political considerations — S.L.A.Marshall
2. : to leave abruptly : depart from suddenly or unexpectedly : abandon , forsake
when fortune fled her spoiled and favorite child — Lord Byron
fleeing the city for the hot months — Jerome Weidman
Synonyms: see escape
II.
chiefly Scotland
variant of fly
III.
dialect Britain
variant of flay