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)

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

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”; grade

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

In real fires, with darkness, smoke, people in various states of injury impeding one another, falls on stairs, counterflows and hesitation, theoretical egress capacities inferred from other evacuations break down.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 4, 2026

“We feel very confident that it’ll be a different version of the success we had in ‘84 in terms of ingress and egress and access and experience when it comes to transportation.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2025

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

I lay in my hiding place, praying he might head for the kitchen window and egress.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson