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 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 In the past year, Flaco has spent his days lounging in parks and on fire escapes and hooting on top of water towers at night, NPR reported. Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2024 Two buildings over, a neighbor in the second-floor apartment has put a litter box on the fire escape outside their window for community cats to shelter. Jill Terreri Ramos, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2023 The prescriptions also can reduce potential liability in the event a fire escapes. James Pollard, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Dec. 2023

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of fire escape was in 1725

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 19 Mar. 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

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