Phrase guide

take flight

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To begin flying; to become airborne or aloft; to take off and fly

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Though the bird is still young, in a day or two it will spread its wing and take flight for the first time.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

to flee

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • The criminals took flight as soon as they heard the sirens.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

run away quickly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He threw down his gun and fled

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: flee, fly

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: scat, run, scarper, turn tail, lam, run away, hightail it, bunk, head for the hills, take to the woods, escape, fly the coop, break away

Narrower terms: break, stampede, abscond, bolt, absquatulate, decamp, run off, go off, make off, elope, escape, get away, break loose, high-tail, defect, desert

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

24 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: lähteä lentoon — to become airborne
  • French: s'envoler — to become airborne
  • French: prendre son vol — to become airborne
  • French: prendre son envol — to become airborne
  • Hungarian: szárnyra kap — to become airborne
  • Italian: spiccare il volo — to become airborne
  • Polish: wznosić się — to become airborne
  • Polish: wznieść się — to become airborne
  • Portuguese: levantar voo — to become airborne
  • Romanian: își lua zborul — to become airborne
  • Russian: взлете́ть (vzletétʹ) — to become airborne
  • Spanish: alzar el vuelo — to become airborne
  • Spanish: levantar el vuelo — to become airborne
  • Finnish: paeta — to flee
  • French: prendre la fuite — to flee
  • Greek: τρέπομαι σε φυγή (trépomai se fygí) — to flee
  • Italian: darsi alla fuga — to flee
  • Māori: hārewa — to flee
  • Polish: uciekać — to flee
  • Polish: uciec — to flee
  • Russian: убега́ть (ubegátʹ) — to flee
  • Russian: улета́ть (uletátʹ) — to flee
  • Russian: уплыва́ть (uplyvátʹ) — to flee
  • Swedish: ta till flykten — to flee