Meaning
To run away; to escape.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
From Middle English flen, from Old English flēon, from Proto-West Germanic *fleuhan, from Proto-Germanic *fleuhaną, from Proto-Indo-European *plewk-, *plew- (“to fly, flow, run”). Cognate with Dutch vlieden, German fliehen, Icelandic flýja, Swedish fly, Gothic 𐌸𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌷𐌰𐌽 (þliuhan). Within English, related to fly and more distantly to flow.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
run for itabscondabsquatulateamscraybeat a retreatbeat itbeat feetblow this popsicle standboltbook it
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 26 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-09-27FDEILNU
- 2026-07-10EBFLOTU
- 2025-11-06FBOWEDL
- 2025-10-25FAEKLOT
- 2025-06-25FBNIELO
- 2025-03-26EFXONIL
- 2025-03-18FOENLIG
- 2025-02-04FATHELU
- 2024-12-25FALGEIN
- 2024-10-27EPAOGLF
- 2024-09-16LCIFEHY
- 2024-08-25FEOLIMT
+14 earlier appearances in the archive.