Escape vs Run away hurry

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Escape

Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb

Run away hurry

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Escape
 EscapeRun away hurry
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ɪˈskeɪp/","/ɪˈskeɪps/","/ɪˈskeɪpt/","/ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪˈskeɪp/","/ɪˈskeɪps/","/ɪˈskeɪpt/","/ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //rʌn əˈweɪ//🇺🇸 //rʌn əˈweɪ//
MeaningTo get away from a place or situation.To leave quickly from a place or situation.
ExampleThey managed to escape from the dangerous situation.The dog saw the open gate and decided to run away.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsbarely, just, narrowly, cannot, be impossible to, be easy to, from, into, to, escape alive, escape somebody’s clutches, escape from it all, barely, just, narrowly, cannot, be impossible to, be easy to, from, into, to, escape alive, escape somebody’s clutches, escape from it all, barely, just, narrowly, cannot, be impossible to, be easy to, from, into, to, escape alive, escape somebody’s clutches, escape from it allrun away quickly, run away from home, run away to escape, run away in fear, run away from danger
Antonymstrap, contain, imprison-
Common mistakesConfused with 'elude', using them interchangeably., Using 'escape' as a noun without the correct context., Incorrect verb form, for example, saying 'escaped' when referring to a continuous action.Using 'run away' without a direct object where it's needed., Confusing 'run away' with 'run off', which implies a more permanent departure.
Usage notesUse 'escape' in both formal and informal contexts. It's suitable for discussing situations like prisoners escaping or someone avoiding a difficult situation. Avoid using it in overly casual contexts where simpler words like 'run away' might fit better.Use 'run away' in contexts where escaping or leaving quickly is involved. Suitable for both spoken and written English.

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Escape
Run away hurry

Frequently asked questions: Escape vs Run away hurry

What's the difference between Escape and Run away hurry?

Escape: To get away from a place or situation. Run away hurry: To leave quickly from a place or situation.

Which is more common: Escape and Run away hurry?

Escape is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Escape: They managed to escape from the dangerous situation. Run away hurry: The dog saw the open gate and decided to run away.

Can I use Escape and Run away hurry interchangeably?

Not always. Escape and Run away hurry are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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