échapper

Senses

1. 1.

   to escape

   to get away from a place, person, or situation of confinement or threat

2. 2.

   to avoid

   to elude or dodge something undesirable

3. 3.

   to slip from one's grasp

   to fall from the hands or control, usually accidentally

4. 4.

   to go unnoticed

   to fail to be perceived or caught by someone's attention

Examples

• "Le prisonnier a réussi à échapper aux gardes."

  The prisoner managed to escape from the guards.

• "Le verre m'a échappé des mains."

  The glass slipped from my hands.

• "Cela m'a complètement échappé !"

  That completely escaped my notice!

Usage

Échapper is commonly used reflexively with à (s'échapper à or simply s'échapper) meaning "to escape." In the transitive form, it often requires an indirect object or appears impersonally (e.g., ça m'a échappé = "it slipped my mind"). Register is standard/neutral.