egress

American  

[ee-gres, ih-gres] / ˈi grɛs, ɪˈgrɛs /

noun

1. the act or an instance of going, especially from an enclosed place.

2. a means or place of going out; an exit.

3. the right or permission to go out.

4. Astronomy. emersion.

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verb (used without object)

• egresses,
  present (3rd person singular)
• egressed,
  past participle,  past
• egressing
  present participle

1. to go out; emerge.

egress British  

noun

1. Also called: egression. the act of going or coming out; emergence

2. a way out, such as a path; exit

3. the right or permission to go out or depart

4. astronomy another name for emersion

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verb

1. to go forth; issue

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• egressing
  present
• egressed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• egress
  simple
• egresses
  simple
• have egressed
  perfect
• has egressed
  perfect
• am egressing
  progressive
• are egressing
  progressive
• is egressing
  progressive
• have been egressing
  perfect progressive
• has been egressing
  perfect progressive

Past

• egressed
  simple
• had egressed
  perfect
• was egressing
  progressive
• were egressing
  progressive
• had been egressing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will egress
  simple
• will have egressed
  perfect
• will be egressing
  progressive
• will have been egressing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of egress

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin ēgressus “an escape, exit,” noun use of past participle of ēgred(ī) “to go out,” from ē- e- ¹ + -gredī, combining form of gradī “to go, step”; cf. grade

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Explanation

If you want to leave a place, you need a means of egress, or a way to exit, such as a door or window. It was a beautiful old house, but without enough ways of egress, they needed outdoor fire-stairs for reaching the upper floors. Egress comes from a Latin word meaning "going out." An egress is basically the same thing as an exit. (Egress can also be used as a verb, "to exit," but less frequently than as a noun.) When buildings undergo inspection, one of the main safety features under review is the number and placement of doors and windows, the "means of egress," in case of fire or other emergency.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

egress egresses egressed egressing

If investigators confirm the early reports of an apparent flashover, a lack of sprinklers and a difficult, single point of egress, Crans-Montana will join a grim list of fires that were foreseeable.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 4, 2026

Those specific locations would contribute to modulating the viral replication cycle, adaptability, and path of entry and egress.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 19, 2024

Those who egress from cults are often assisted by former fellow cult members.

From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2023

“Ingress and egress are halted. No driving is permitted until the playa surface dries up, with the exception of emergency vehicles,” organizers said in an emailed statement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2023

Rather, he would quietly appoint a committee to deliberate for eternity over exactly which door, and of what dimensions, would best facilitate the ingress and egress of all students.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

But now it has become almost a regular occurrence, as winds and new tidal currents trap an overflow of water behind the lagoon's three egresses.

From Time Magazine Archive

But after a brief interval, they egressed with the basins and rinsing cups.

From Hung Lou Meng, Book II Or, the Dream of the Red Chamber, a Chinese Novel in Two Books by H. Bencraft Joly

Lady Feng thereupon egressed from the room in the inner end and interposed her remarks.

From Hung Lou Meng, Book I Or, the Dream of the Red Chamber, a Chinese Novel in Two Books by H. Bencraft Joly

Hsiang-lien then got up and quitted the room, and perceiving every one off his guard, he egressed out of the main entrance.

From Hung Lou Meng, Book II Or, the Dream of the Red Chamber, a Chinese Novel in Two Books by H. Bencraft Joly

But while she yet spoke, they perceived a whole bevy of people, pressing round lady Feng, as she egressed from the apartment.

From Hung Lou Meng, Book I Or, the Dream of the Red Chamber, a Chinese Novel in Two Books by H. Bencraft Joly

She was plunged in a state of ecstasy, when suddenly, from the rear of the artificial rockery, egressed a person, who approached her and facing her said, "My respects to you, sister-in-law."

From Hung Lou Meng, Book I Or, the Dream of the Red Chamber, a Chinese Novel in Two Books by H. Bencraft Joly

This effected, we blocked up its egressing mouth, that, should our escape be discovered, the enemy might not find the direct road we had taken.

From The Scottish Chiefs by Jane Porter

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