English Meaning & Definitions
To break free from confinement, control, or a dangerous situation.
- “The lion managed to escape from its enclosure at the zoo.”
- “He barely managed to escape the burning building before the roof collapsed.”
To slip away from notice or remain unnoticed by someone.
- “Her name escaped my memory for a moment.”
- “The exact meaning of the poem escapes most readers on a first reading.”
An act of breaking free from confinement or control.
- “The prisoners planned a daring escape under the cover of darkness.”
- “His narrow escape from the car crash left him shaken but uninjured.”
A temporary diversion or activity that helps one forget about harsh reality or routine.
- “Reading fantasy novels is a wonderful escape from daily stress.”
- “Cinema provides a much-needed escape into another world.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “escape”.
Derived from the Late Latin word 'excappare', meaning 'to leave one's cape behind' (from 'ex-' out of + 'cappa' cape), suggesting a prisoner slipping out of a garment when grabbed by a pursuer.
Think of a cape: imagine running so fast from danger that you leave your cape behind (ex-cape).
Frequently Asked Questions About “escape”
1. What is the meaning of “escape” in English?
In English, escape (verb) is defined as: “To break free from confinement, control, or a dangerous situation.”.
2. How do you use “escape” in a sentence?
“The lion managed to escape from its enclosure at the zoo.”
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “escape”?
Derived from the Late Latin word 'excappare', meaning 'to leave one's cape behind' (from 'ex-' out of + 'cappa' cape), suggesting a prisoner slipping out of a garment when grabbed by a pursuer.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.