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refuge

American  
[ref-yooj] / ˈrɛf judʒ /

noun

refuges plural
  1. shelter or protection from danger, trouble, etc..

    to take refuge from a storm.

    Synonyms:
    safety, security
  2. a place of shelter, protection, or safety.

    Synonyms:
    stronghold, haven, sanctuary, retreat, asylum
  3. anything to which one has recourse for aid, relief, or escape.


verb (used with object)

refuged, refuging
  1. Archaic. to afford refuge to.

verb (used without object)

refuged, refuging
  1. Archaic. to take refuge.

refuge British  
/ ˈrɛfjuːdʒ /

noun

  1. shelter or protection, as from the weather or danger

  2. any place, person, action, or thing that offers or appears to offer protection, help, or relief

    accused of incompetence, he took refuge in lying

  3. another name for traffic island

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. archaic to take refuge or give refuge to

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of refuge

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin refugium, from refug(ere) “to turn and flee, run away” ( re- re- + fugere “to flee”; see fugitive) + -ium -ium

Explanation

To take refuge is to find a safe place. You might take refuge under a bridge in a hail storm, or in a basement during a tornado. Refuge comes from a French word meaning "to flee," and, in most cases, a refuge is a place to flee to in order to get away from people or places that are unsafe. A refuge is a safe place, such as a building or even another country, as in "they sought refuge from the war by leaving their homeland," or it is a simple, personal place of comfort — like a friend's couch.

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Vocabulary lists containing refuge

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On days when a big attack is expected, some residents now head straight to metro stations -- the typical underground overnight refuge -- when they finish work, not waiting for the air alert.

From Barron's • Jul. 9, 2026

Hundreds of others were driven to do the same, seeking refuge at a shelter set up by the local government.

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2026

The decisions raise significant consequences for immigrants who have made their lives in the U.S., and stand to reshape public views over the country’s historic position as a place of refuge.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2026

Until last weekend, the World Cup had mostly been a refuge from the nightmare that is American politics.

From Slate • Jul. 6, 2026

He didn’t really care about the refuge, but he felt that if he could keep her talking, it might calm her down.

From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith

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