German word

entkommen

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛntˈkɔmən/

Meaning

  • verbescape

Example

Der Dieb ist der Polizei entkommen.

The thief escaped from the police.

Illustration for entkommen (escape)

More examples

Er träumte davon, dem Alltag entkommen zu können.

He dreamed of being able to escape from daily life.

Core concept

Someone gets out of danger or pursuit before anyone can catch them.

Common phrases

  • entkommen dem Alltag

    escape from daily life

  • entkommen einer Kontrolle

    evade a check

  • entkommen aus dem Gefängnis

    break out of prison

Similar words

fliehen: Making a quick escape from danger or someone in pursuit.
flüchten: Leaving a dangerous or disastrous situation for a safe place.
entgehen: Avoiding danger, a penalty, or detection.
entwischen: Slipping out quickly while the other person is distracted or loses hold.

Definition in German

einer Gefahr, Festnahme oder Verfolgung entwischen; nicht gefasst werden

Word origin

The inherited Germanic verb entkommen joins ent-, which signals removal or separation, with kommen, "come", giving the sense of getting away.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English escape, entkommen usually has the escaped pursuer or danger in the dative, as in "der Polizei entkommen".

Opposites

Related words

  • Entkommenescapenoun

Word lists with this word