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to decamp

to decamp

4 8.5
To leave a place quickly and secretly to avoid being caught
  • verb
  • /dɪˈkæmp/
translation icon : huir
  • The tenant decamped without arranging for a charwoman to clear up after him.
  • decamp to Hollywood
  • decamped from home

Examples

  • You should definitely decamp to Idaho and find yourself a cave or bunker to hunker down in.

    Blog text (16)
  • The family stayed in Quaker housing there for a few weeks, then decamped for a Quaker colony at Haverford, Pa.

    Blog text (31)
  • We can decamp and be out of here within the week.

  • If anything, the young with children will have to decamp in order to afford anything more than a condo or apartment.

    Blog text (9)
  • Every summer, the Royal family just decamped to the Scottish Highlands, and it's actually said that it's one of the Queen's favorite places to be.

  • And as populations decamp from the suburbs and the metroplexes, these are places that might attract them.

    Blog text (10)
  • The tenants have decamped.

  • In the nineteenth century, Manhattanites used to decamp for the summer to grand mansions on Clinton Avenue, a few blocks away.

    Blog text (7)
  • After picking up fine china at the Crown house on Michigan, fearing prosecution, he'd decamped from Frankel's without giving notice.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The children planned to decamp from the campsite before sunrise to avoid detection.

Synonyms

to run off
vsto decamp
  • Informal
260 3.7

To leave a place or person suddenly, often without saying goodbye

is more narrowly about escaping to avoid trouble or being caught
to skip
vsto decamp
  • Informal
147 3.7

To leave a place quickly and secretly to avoid trouble

matches that escape intent while stressing secret avoidance of being caught
to sneak out
vsto decamp
  • Informal
125 3.7

To leave a place quietly so no one notices you

is used more for escaping trouble or being caught, not just silence
to run out
vsto decamp
78 2.0

Leave a place suddenly, often to avoid someone or something

is more about sudden secret departure to avoid being caught
to bolt
vsto decamp
69 2.3

To run away suddenly to escape danger

adds the idea of secret intent to avoid trouble or capture
to slip out
vsto decamp
39 3.8

To leave a place quietly without anyone noticing

adds a clearer intent to avoid trouble or apprehension
to sneak off
vsto decamp
  • Informal
33 4.0

Leave a place quietly so others do not notice

adds a clearer element of escaping trouble or possible capture
to slip away
vsto decamp
32 3.4

To leave a place quietly without anyone noticing

is similar but usually stresses escaping possible trouble or being caught
to skip town
vsto decamp
  • Informal
28 8.1

Leave a place suddenly and secretly to avoid trouble or debt

focuses on sudden secret departure specifically to escape trouble or being caught
to make off
vsto decamp
19 6.4

To run away quickly after stealing or committing a crime

shares swift escape but stresses avoiding capture or trouble more generally
to sneak away
vsto decamp
  • Informal
17 3.6

To leave a place quietly without being noticed

is similar but places stronger emphasis on avoiding trouble or capture
to duck out
vsto decamp
  • Informal
12 7.2

To leave a place quickly and quietly to avoid something you should do

is more about escaping trouble or being caught rather than avoiding duties
to fly the coop
vsto decamp
  • Informal
12 7.9

To leave a place suddenly without permission

is similar but stresses secret departure to avoid trouble or being caught
to abscond
vsto decamp
  • Formal
11 8.5

To leave quickly and secretly with money or things to avoid being caught

is the same sudden secret leaving aimed at avoiding capture or trouble
to fled the scene
vsto decamp
11 4.4

Leave a place quickly to avoid being caught after causing or seeing trouble

matches the escape idea but applies broadly to avoiding trouble or capture
to run out of town
vsto decamp
5 6.6

Leave a place quickly because people are angry or you are in trouble

is similar but emphasizes secret suddenness to avoid being caught
to steal away
vsto decamp
4 6.3

To leave a meeting or party quietly so no one notices

focuses more on secret exit aimed at avoiding trouble or capture
to bug-out
vsto decamp
  • Slang
3 8.2

To leave a place quickly to escape danger

focuses more on secret avoidance of trouble or capture rather than emergencies
to blow town
vsto decamp
  • Informal
2 9.8

To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble

is similar but adds a stronger sense of secretive avoidance of capture
to absquatulate
vsto decamp
  • Archaic
9.9

To leave a place quickly and secretly, often taking things or someone

is similar but framed mainly as secret departure to avoid trouble or capture

Antonyms

1.0

To remain in one place and not leave

How Stealthy

to abscond
  • Formal
11 8.5
to decamp
4 8.5
to sneak away
  • Informal
17 3.6
to leave
1.0

Surface Forms

decamp infinitive
decamped past
decamped past participle
decamping present participle
decamps third person singular

Morphology

decamp = camp (semi-transparent) = de + camp

Formally 'de-' + 'camp' gives 'leave camp', which is clear, but the usual connotation of leaving suddenly/secretly is a pragmatic narrowing not strictly predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Decamp comes from French parts de- meaning 'away' and camp meaning 'camp' or a place where soldiers stay; think of troops leaving their camp quickly. So, to decamp now means to leave a place suddenly and often secretly, like escaping before you are caught.