—escape /ɪˈskeɪp/
noun (GET FREE)
C1 [C or U] the act of successfully getting out of a place or a dangerous or bad situation:
» He made his escape on the back of a motorcycle.» an escape route» They had a narrow escape (= only just avoided injury or death) when their car crashed.Thesaurus+: ↑Running away and escapingF0 [C] a loss that happens by accident:
» an escape of radioactivityThesaurus+: ↑Losing and loss , ↑Winning and losingWord partners for escape noun• ♯have a [♯lucky/♯miraculous/♯narrow] escape• ♯make your escape• ♯attempt/♯plan an escape• ♯means of escape• an escape ♯routeWord Builder:–Nouns: escape, escapism–Adjectives: inescapable, escaped–Verbs: escape–Adverbs: inescapablyCollocations:–Verbs-lu. have a [lucky, miraculous, narrow, etc.] escape» They had a miraculous escape when their car plunged down a ravine.-lu. make your escape» My hosts were deep in conversation when I made my escape.-lu. attempt/plan an escape» The prisoners spent every evening planning their escape.-lu. be an escape (for sb)» For me, music is an escape from everyday life.–Nouns-lu. an escape hatch/route/tunnel» We got out through the escape hatch.-lu. an escape clause» There was an escape clause in the contract in case either party changed their mind.-lu. an escape attempt» There were dozens of escape attempts that year.-lu. means of escape» They used the ladder as their means of escape.–Adjectives-lu. an amazing/attempted/miraculous/remarkable escape» We had an amazing escape when fire engulfed the building.-lu. a great/heroic escape» They made a heroic escape from the prison.-lu. a lucky/narrow escape» We were nearly caught in the downpour, but we had a narrow escape.–Prepositions-lu. escape from sb/sth» I needed to escape from my family.-lu. escape to [a place]» We escaped to a remote beach for the day.• • •
Extra Examples:» We've got all the exits covered, so they've no chance of escape.» It was a daring escape.» He told the extraordinary story of his escape.» She gave a hair-raising account of her escape through the desert.» It sounds as if you had a lucky escape .noun [S] (FORGET)
► B2 something that helps you to forget about your usual life or problems: » Romantic novels provide an escape from reality.Thesaurus+: ↑Creating a distractionWord partners for escape noun• ♯have a [♯lucky/♯miraculous/♯narrow] escape• ♯make your escape• ♯attempt/♯plan an escape• ♯means of escape• an escape ♯routeWord Builder:–Nouns: escape, escapism–Adjectives: inescapable, escaped–Verbs: escape–Adverbs: inescapablyCollocations:–Verbs-lu. have a [lucky, miraculous, narrow, etc.] escape» They had a miraculous escape when their car plunged down a ravine.-lu. make your escape» My hosts were deep in conversation when I made my escape.-lu. attempt/plan an escape» The prisoners spent every evening planning their escape.-lu. be an escape (for sb)» For me, music is an escape from everyday life.–Nouns-lu. an escape hatch/route/tunnel» We got out through the escape hatch.-lu. an escape clause» There was an escape clause in the contract in case either party changed their mind.-lu. an escape attempt» There were dozens of escape attempts that year.-lu. means of escape» They used the ladder as their means of escape.–Adjectives-lu. an amazing/attempted/miraculous/remarkable escape» We had an amazing escape when fire engulfed the building.-lu. a great/heroic escape» They made a heroic escape from the prison.-lu. a lucky/narrow escape» We were nearly caught in the downpour, but we had a narrow escape.–Prepositions-lu. escape from sb/sth» I needed to escape from my family.-lu. escape to [a place]» We escaped to a remote beach for the day.noun [U] (ALSO escape key, WRITTEN ABBREVIATION Esc) specialized (COMPUTER)
► F0 the key on a computer keyboard that allows you to leave a particular screen and return to the previous one or to interrupt a process: » Press Esc to return to the main menu.See picture: escape key 
Thesaurus+: ↑Operating computersWord partners for escape noun• ♯have a [♯lucky/♯miraculous/♯narrow] escape• ♯make your escape• ♯attempt/♯plan an escape• ♯means of escape• an escape ♯routeWord Builder:–Nouns: escape, escapism–Adjectives: inescapable, escaped–Verbs: escape–Adverbs: inescapably
verb [I or T] (GET FREE) ↑Verb Endings for escape
► B1 to get free from something, or to avoid something: » Two prisoners have escaped.» A lion has escaped from its cage.» She was lucky to escape serious injury.» He narrowly (= only just) escaped a fine.» His name escapes me (= I have forgotten his name).» Nothing important escapes her notice/attention.Thesaurus+: ↑Running away and escapingWord Builder:–Nouns: escape, escapism–Adjectives: inescapable, escaped–Verbs: escape–Adverbs: inescapably• • •
Extra Examples:» In order to escape capture, he fled to the mountains.» He had to jump out of an upstairs window to escape.» Refugees have been pouring into neighbouring countries to escape the civil war.» Both children escaped unharmed from the burning building.» In the end she left home just to escape the tyrannical rule of her mother.verb [I] SPECIALIZED (COMPUTER) ↑Verb Endings for escape
► F0 to press the key on a computer keyboard that allows you to leave a particular screen and return to the previous one or to interrupt a process: » Escape from this window and return to the main menu.Thesaurus+: ↑Operating computersWord Builder:–Nouns: escape, escapism–Adjectives: inescapable, escaped–Verbs: escape–Adverbs: inescapably