decamp

American  

[dih-kamp] / dɪˈkæmp /

verb (used without object)

1. to depart from a camp; to pack up equipment and leave a camping ground.

   We decamped before the rain began.

2. to depart quickly, secretly, or unceremoniously.

   The band of thieves decamped in the night.

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decamp British  

/ dɪˈkæmp /

verb

1. to leave a camp; break camp

2. to depart secretly or suddenly; abscond

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Other Word Forms

• decampment noun

Etymology

Origin of decamp

1670–80; < French décamper, equivalent to dé- dis- ¹ + camper to encamp; camp ¹

Example Sentences

Such caution frustrated a number of company researchers, some of whom decamped.

From The Wall Street Journal

Its departure from downtown would continue a yearslong trend of companies decamping from the urban core amid a rise in crime and homelessness since the pandemic.

From The Wall Street Journal

Administration officials would not immediately confirm whether the troops had decamped.

From Los Angeles Times

Days before the attack, however, they had decamped to a short-term rental in Campsie - about 30 minutes closer to the beach, media reports said.

From BBC

Instead of decamping to Thibodaux, La., for football’s most exclusive family reunion, Mendoza—a transfer from the University of California—spent his summer in Bloomington, obsessively learning the playbook of his new coach, Curt Cignetti.

From The Wall Street Journal