noun
refuge
REHF-yooj
noun
1
Safety or shelter from danger or difficulty.
"They took refuge in a nearby church during the storm."
"She found refuge in music whenever things got stressful."
2
A place that provides shelter or protection, such as a nature reserve.
"The wildlife refuge protects several endangered bird species."
How to Use Refuge
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA safe place, or the state of being safe, especially when escaping danger.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
take refuge
seek refuge
wildlife refuge
Word Forms
refuged past tense, refuges plural, refuges singular
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Etymology
From Old French refuge, from Latin refugium, built from re- ("back") plus fugere ("to flee") — literally "a place to flee back to."