English · Word Candidate

refuge

/ˈɹɛfjuːd͡ʒ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: refuges · refuging · refuged

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A state of safety, protection or shelter.

Noun

Examples

Rocks, dens, and caves! But I in none of these / Find place or refuge.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A place providing safety, protection or shelter.

Noun

Examples

One morning I had been driven to the precarious refuge afforded by the steps of the inn, after rejecting offers from the Celebrity to join him in a variety of amusements. But even here I was not free from interruption, for he was seated on a horse-block below me, playing with a fox terrier.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To return to a place of shelter.

Verb

Examples

Among these macaques, although activity cycles are quite variable from location to location, refuging is a common characteristic.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “refuge” mean?

A state of safety, protection or shelter.

Is “refuge” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.