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fire escape
noun
: a device for escape from a burning building
especially
: a metal stairway attached to the outside of a building
Examples of fire escape in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some people get rich and famous, some people get happy, and some fall off fire escapes.
—Helen Mitsios, SPIN, 16 May 2024
People took pictures of him perched on trees, water towers, fire escapes and benches.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
The men recruited another man, Jay Bryant, the prosecutors had said, to open the fire escape door, allowing Jordan to shoot Mizell and Washington to stand guard.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024
Have a home fire escape plan and practice at-home fire drills.
—Makiya Seminera, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2024
Outlines 'Brutality' of Shooting in Closing Remarks Bryant came in the studio’s front entrance and let Washington and Jordan in through the fire escape in the back.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024
Neighbors had recently spotted Flaco roosting on fire escapes during the day and hooting at night.
—Tracey Tully, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2024
He was spotted on water towers, fire escapes and a Central Park bench, according to the Washington Post’s Helier Cheung.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
Flaco quickly attracted a dedicated fan base who delighted in his regular appearances in Manhattan — lounging on water towers, fire escapes and even a Central Park bench.
—Helier Cheung, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fire escape.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1725, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near fire escape
Cite this Entry
“Fire escape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fire%20escape. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
fire escape
noun
: a stairway or ladder that provides a means of escape from a building in case of fire
More from Merriam-Webster on fire escape
Nglish: Translation of fire escape for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fire escape
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