Escape
/ɪˈskeɪp/
Definitions
4 meaningsTo get free from something (a place, a situation, or a person).
/ɪˈskeɪp/
To get free from a confinement or control.
The dog escaped from the backyard.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're stuck in a boring meeting, and you manage to sneak out. That's escaping! It's like getting away from something you don't want to be in.
👶 For kids: To get away from something you don't want to be in, like a cage or a game you don't like.
More Examples
She managed to escape the fire.
He escaped the crowded city for a quiet weekend in the mountains.
How It's Used
"The prisoner escaped from jail."
"The bird escaped from its cage."
To avoid or get away from something unwanted.
/ɪˈskeɪp/
To avoid something unpleasant or dangerous.
He escaped punishment for his actions.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're about to get caught in the rain, but you run under a shelter. That's escaping the bad weather!
👶 For kids: To get away from something bad or scary.
More Examples
We managed to escape the rush-hour traffic.
The company narrowly escaped bankruptcy.
How It's Used
"Investors escaped the market downturn by diversifying their portfolios."
"She managed to escape serious injury in the car accident."
The act of escaping; a way of getting free.
/ɪˈskeɪp/
An act of getting free from something.
The firefighters made a quick escape from the burning building.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're playing a game and find a secret way to get out. That secret way out is an escape!
👶 For kids: When you get away from something, like running out of a scary place.
More Examples
The escape from the island was their only hope.
The daring escape became a news headline.
How It's Used
"The prisoner made a daring escape."
"Their escape was hampered by the enemy."
The avoidance of something negative or dangerous.
/ɪˈskeɪp/
An instance of avoiding something unpleasant.
It was a close escape; the car missed him by inches.
💡 Simply: Imagine you almost trip, but you catch yourself at the last second. That's a close escape!
👶 For kids: When you almost get hurt or in trouble, but you don't!
More Examples
Her escape from the situation saved her career.
The city had a lucky escape from the hurricane.
How It's Used
"It was a narrow escape from disaster."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
escape artist
A person skilled at escaping from confinement.
"The magician was a famous escape artist."
a narrow escape
An instance of barely avoiding something dangerous or unpleasant.
"It was a narrow escape from the car accident."
make an escape
To leave a place quickly, often to avoid something unpleasant.
"The burglars made their escape after the alarm went off."
From Old French *escaper*, from Vulgar Latin *excappare* ('to get out of a cloak'), from Latin *ex* ('out') + *cappa* ('cape, cloak').
Historically, the word escape has been used in various contexts from religious texts referring to salvation to adventure novels describing daring prison breaks.
Memory tip
Think of the movie 'Escape from Alcatraz' – they were trying to escape.
Word Origin
"out of + cloak"