escapeescapeescapes2nounescaping from a place or a dangerous or unpleasant situation: As soon as he turned his back, she would make her escape.She had a lucky escape (= something bad almost happened to her) when a lorry crashed into her car.escapeescapeescapesescapedescaping1verb (escapes, escaping, escaped)1to get free from somebody or something: The bird escaped from its cage. Two prisoners escaped, but were later caught.2to manage to avoid something dangerous or unpleasant: The pilot escaped death by seconds.