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Definition escape in British English

escape verb

verb
/ɪˈskeɪp/
1

to get away from a place where you are in danger

Example

Three people died in the fire, but John escaped through the bedroom window.

Example

His family escaped from Germany and arrived in Britain in 1938.

Synonyms and related words
escape get away break away
1.1

to get away from a very unpleasant situation

Example

people trying to escape poverty

Example

She saw university as a way to escape from her oppressive home life.

Synonyms and related words
escape ride out extricate
1.2

to get away from a place that you are not allowed to leave, for example a prison

Example

She was shot while trying to escape.

Synonyms and related words
escape get away break away
1.3

to get away from an embarrassing or annoying situation

Example

Maggie started talking to me and I thought I'd never escape.

Example

He was trying to escape the clutches of two amorous young girls.

Synonyms and related words
escape ride out extricate
2

to avoid being killed or seriously injured in an accident or attack

Example

Two security guards escaped injury in the attack.

Example

Mr Smith escaped with cuts and bruises.

Example

Her two-week-old baby escaped unscathed.

Example

He was lucky to escape with his life.

Synonyms and related words
escape retreat skate over/around
Example

The area has escaped the ravages of war.

Example

Hughes seems certain to escape punishment.

Example

Durham narrowly escaped defeat in their first match of the season.

Synonyms and related words
escape retreat skate over/around
2.2

to avoid thinking about or dealing with an unpleasant situation that you are in

Example

The cinema allowed people to escape from the depressing realities of their lives.

Synonyms and related words
avoid get out of duck out of
3

if something escapes you, you cannot remember it or you do not notice it

Example

His name escapes me right now.

Example

It seems to have escaped him that I was the one who first introduced him to her.

Example

It had not escaped my attention that Joseph was absent.

Synonyms and related words
forget blot out blank out
4

to come out of a container, usually by accident

Example

How will we know if there's any gas escaping?

Example

About five tonnes of crude oil had escaped into the sea.

Synonyms and related words
give off send out emit
4.1

to come out of your mouth, although you did not intend it to

Example

A weary sigh escaped from her lips.

Synonyms and related words
mention refer to invoke
5

to go away on holiday

Example

We're hoping to escape to the Algarve in May.

Synonyms and related words
go away get off get away
Definition escape in British English