ref·uge
ˈre-(ˌ)fyüj 
also -(ˌ)fyüzh
1
: shelter or protection from danger or distress
2
: a place that provides shelter or protection
3
: something to which one has recourse in difficulty
refuged; refuging
: to give refuge to
: to seek or take refuge
Did you know?
Finding Refuge
The re- in refuge means basically "back" or "backward" rather than "again;" thus, a refugee is someone who is "fleeing backward". Refuge tends to appear with certain other words: you generally "seek refuge", "take refuge", or "find refuge". Religion may be a refuge from the woes of your life; a beautiful park may be a refuge from the noise of the city; and your bedroom may be a refuge from the madness of your family.
Synonyms
Examples of refuge in a Sentence
Noun
hunting is strictly forbidden in the wildlife refuge
Verb
a nation with a long, honorable history of refuging political asylum seekers
Recent Examples on the Web
Scott Travers, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
For example, mobile refuge rooms by the nonprofit and real estate collective Designing Justice + Designing Spaces presents 10-by-10-foot, modular transitional units for people leaving prison, meant to be clustered in a communal environment.
—Jacoba Urist, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
Kristina Hook, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2023
Conservationists, refuge biologists and Pacific Foods, a local business, came up with an ambitious plan to remove the carp, truck them to nearby Burns, and process them into fertilizer.
—April Reese, Discover Magazine, 8 Feb. 2016
See all Example Sentences for refuge 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
By securing vital ecosystems within these zones, conservationists aim to provide the saola with a safe refuge, free from human interference.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
For example, mobile refuge rooms by the nonprofit and real estate collective Designing Justice + Designing Spaces presents 10-by-10-foot, modular transitional units for people leaving prison, meant to be clustered in a communal environment.
—Jacoba Urist, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
Her students were in their own difficult circumstances, too – seeking refuge away from their homes, some in other countries.
—Kristina Hook, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2023
Conservationists, refuge biologists and Pacific Foods, a local business, came up with an ambitious plan to remove the carp, truck them to nearby Burns, and process them into fertilizer.
—April Reese, Discover Magazine, 8 Feb. 2016
See all Example Sentences for refuge
Articles Related to refuge
Dictionary Entries Near refuge
Cite this Entry
“Refuge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refuge. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share