Escape vs. Scape: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 30, 2023
Escape refers to getting away from confinement or danger, while "scape" is less commonly used, often referring to a stem or stalk, or as a suffix in words like "landscape."
Key Differences
Escape and scape are two words that might seem similar but have distinct usages and meanings in the English language. Escape primarily denotes the act of breaking free from something, such as confinement or a hazardous situation. In contrast, the word scape is less frequently used on its own, typically signifying a stem or stalk of a plant.
When someone mentions they "made an escape," it is understood that they managed to get away from a potentially threatening or undesirable situation. Scape, on the other hand, might be unfamiliar to some unless they have knowledge in botany, where it describes a specific part of a plant.
Additionally, scape is also seen as a suffix in various words in the English language, such as "landscape" or "soundscape," where it helps define a particular type or view of environment. Escape doesn't serve such a grammatical purpose.
So, in essence, while escape is a common word that often denotes urgent movements away from something, scape stands apart as either a botanical term or a component of other words, enhancing their meaning.
Comparison Chart
Primary Definition
To break free from confinement or danger.
A stem or stalk of a plant, or suffix in certain words.
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Part of Speech
Both a noun and a verb.
Typically a noun.
Frequency of Use
Commonly used.
Less common, specific contexts.
Example Usage
"He managed to escape from prison."
"The scape of the flower is long."
Etymology
From Old French "escaper."
From Old English "sceap."
Escape and Scape Definitions
Escape
To break free from confinement or control.
The prisoner managed to escape.
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Scape
A long, leafless stalk in plants that arises from a rosette of leaves and bears one or more flowers.
The daylily has a tall scape.
Escape
To avoid a situation or consequence.
She escaped punishment.
Scape
A view or picture of a particular type, often as a suffix.
The cityscape is breathtaking.
Escape
To break loose from confinement; get free
Escape from jail.
Scape
A specific scene or view
The mountain scape is serene.
Escape
To issue from confinement or enclosure; leak or seep out
Gas was escaping from the vent.
Scape
A shaft or stem in architecture.
The scape of the pillar was ornate.
Escape
To avoid a serious or unwanted outcome
Escaped from the accident with their lives.
Scape
A channel or duct in certain animals.
The scape in some mollusks aids in water flow.
Escape
(Biology) To become established in the wild. Used of a plant or animal.
Scape
(Botany) A leafless flower stalk growing directly from the ground, as in the tulip.
Escape
(Computers) To interrupt a command, exit a program, or change levels within a program by using a key, combination of keys, or key sequence.
Scape
(Biology) A stalklike part, such as a feather shaft or the first segment of an insect's antenna.
Escape
To succeed in avoiding
The thief escaped punishment.
Scape
(Architecture) The shaft of a column.
Escape
To break loose from; get free of
The spacecraft escaped Earth's gravitational field.
Scape
A scene; a view. Often used in combination
Seascape.
Mindscape.
Escape
To be outside the memory or understanding of; fail to be remembered or understood by
Her name escapes me. The book's significance escaped him.
Scape
Variant of escape.
Escape
To issue involuntarily from
A sigh escaped my lips.
Scape
(botany) A leafless stalk growing directly out of a root.
Escape
The act or an instance of escaping.
Scape
The basal segment of an insect's antenna (i.e. the part closest to the body).
Escape
A means of escaping.
Scape
The basal part of the ovipositor of an insect, more specifically known as the oviscape.
Escape
A means of obtaining temporary freedom from worry, care, or unpleasantness
Television is my escape from worry.
Scape
(architecture) The shaft of a column.
Escape
A gradual effusion from an enclosure; a leakage.
Scape
(architecture) The apophyge of a shaft.
Escape
(Biology) A cultivated plant or a domesticated or confined animal that has become established in the wild.
Scape
(archaic) escape
Escape
(Computers) A key used especially to interrupt a command, exit a program, or change levels within a program.
Scape
(obsolete) A means of escape; evasion.
Escape
(intransitive) To get free; to free oneself.
The prisoners escaped by jumping over a wall.
The factory was evacuated after toxic gases escaped from a pipe.
Scape
(obsolete) A freak; a slip; a fault; an escapade.
Escape
(transitive) To avoid (any unpleasant person or thing); to elude, get away from.
He only got a fine and so escaped going to jail.
The children climbed out of the window to escape the fire.
Scape
(obsolete) A loose act of vice or lewdness.
Escape
(intransitive) To avoid capture; to get away with something, avoid punishment.
Luckily, I escaped with only a fine.
Scape
The cry of the snipe when flushed.
Escape
(transitive) To elude the observation or notice of; to not be seen or remembered by.
The name of the hotel escapes me at present.
Scape
The snipe itself.
Escape
To cause (a single character, or all such characters in a string) to be interpreted literally, instead of with any special meaning it would usually have in the same context, often by prefixing with another character.
When using the "bash" shell, you can escape the ampersand character with a backslash.
Brion escaped the double quote character on Windows by adding a second double quote within the literal.
Scape
(archaic) to escape
Escape
(computing) To halt a program or command by pressing a key (such as the "Esc" key) or combination of keys.
Scape
A peduncle rising from the ground or from a subterranean stem, as in the stemless violets, the bloodroot, and the like.
Escape
The act of leaving a dangerous or unpleasant situation.
The prisoners made their escape by digging a tunnel.
Scape
The long basal joint of the antennæ of an insect.
Escape
Leakage or outflow, as of steam or a liquid, or an electric current through defective insulation.
Scape
The shaft of a column.
Escape
Something that has escaped; an escapee.
Scape
An escape.
I spake of most disastrous chances, . . .Of hairbreadth scapes in the imminent, deadly breach.
Escape
A holiday, viewed as time away from the vicissitudes of life.
Scape
Means of escape; evasion.
Escape
(computing) escape key
Scape
A freak; a slip; a fault; an escapade.
Not pardoning so much as the scapes of error and ignorance.
Escape
(programming) The text character represented by 27 (decimal) or 1B (hexadecimal).
You forgot to insert an escape in the datastream.
Scape
Loose act of vice or lewdness.
Escape
(snooker) A successful shot from a snooker position.
Scape
To escape.
Out of this prison help that we may scape.
Escape
(manufacturing) A defective product that is allowed to leave a manufacturing facility.
Scape
Erect leafless flower stalk growing directly from the ground as in a tulip
Escape
(obsolete) That which escapes attention or restraint; a mistake, oversight, or transgression.
Scape
(architecture) upright consisting of the vertical part of a column
Escape
(obsolete) A sally.
Escape
(architecture) An apophyge.
Escape
To flee from and avoid; to be saved or exempt from; to shun; to obtain security from; as, to escape danger.
Escape
To avoid the notice of; to pass unobserved by; to evade; as, the fact escaped our attention.
They escaped the search of the enemy.
Escape
To flee, and become secure from danger; - often followed by from or out of.
Haste, for thy life escape, nor look behind
Escape
To get clear from danger or evil of any form; to be passed without harm.
Such heretics . . . would have been thought fortunate, if they escaped with life.
Escape
To get free from that which confines or holds; - used of persons or things; as, to escape from prison, from arrest, or from slavery; gas escapes from the pipes; electricity escapes from its conductors.
To escape out of these meshes.
Escape
The act of fleeing from danger, of evading harm, or of avoiding notice; deliverance from injury or any evil; flight; as, an escape in battle; a narrow escape; also, the means of escape; as, a fire escape.
I would hasten my escape from the windy storm.
Escape
That which escapes attention or restraint; a mistake; an oversight; also, transgression.
I should have been more accurate, and corrected all those former escapes.
Escape
A sally.
Escape
The unlawful permission, by a jailer or other custodian, of a prisoner's departure from custody.
Escape
A plant which has escaped from cultivation.
Escape
An apophyge.
Escape
Leakage or outflow, as of steam or a liquid.
Escape
Leakage or loss of currents from the conducting wires, caused by defective insulation.
Escape
The act of escaping physically;
He made his escape from the mental hospital
The canary escaped from its cage
His flight was an indication of his guilt
Escape
An inclination to retreat from unpleasant realities through diversion or fantasy;
Romantic novels were her escape from the stress of daily life
His alcohol problem was a form of escapism
Escape
The unwanted discharge of a fluid from some container;
They tried to stop the escape of gas from the damaged pipe
He had to clean up the leak
Escape
A valve in a container in which pressure can build up (as a steam boiler); it opens automatically when the pressure reaches a dangerous level
Escape
Nonperformance of something distasteful (as by deceit or trickery) that you are supposed to do;
His evasion of his clear duty was reprehensible
That escape from the consequences is possible but unattractive
Escape
An avoidance of danger or difficulty;
That was a narrow escape
Escape
A means or way of escaping;
Hard work was his escape from worry
They installed a second hatch as an escape
Their escape route
Escape
A plant originally cultivated but now growing wild
Escape
Run away from confinement;
The convicted murderer escaped from a high security prison
Escape
Fail to experience;
Fortunately, I missed the hurricane
Escape
Escape potentially unpleasant consequences; get away with a forbidden action;
She gets away with murder!
I couldn't get out from under these responsibilities
Escape
Be incomprehensible to; escape understanding by;
What you are seeing in him eludes me
Escape
Issue or leak, as from a small opening;
Gas escaped into the bedroom
Escape
Remove oneself from a familiar environment, usually for pleasure or diversion;
We escaped to our summer house for a few days
The president of the company never manages to get away during the summer
Escape
Flee; take to one's heels; cut and run;
If you see this man, run!
The burglars escaped before the police showed up
Escape
An act or instance of breaking free.
The great escape was successful.
Escape
A means of obtaining temporary freedom from worry or pain.
Reading is my escape.
Escape
To leak out or become known.
The news somehow escaped.
FAQs
Can escape be used figuratively?
Yes, such as "escape from reality" to mean mental distraction.
Is escaping always a physical act?
No, one can escape mentally or emotionally from situations.
Is scape a common standalone word in English?
No, it's less common and often specific to botany or as a suffix.
Does scape always relate to plants?
No, it can also be a suffix or refer to certain architectural elements.
How is scape used in architecture?
It can refer to a shaft or stem in architectural structures.
Can a scape be decorative in architecture?
Yes, scapes in architecture can have ornate designs.
What does escape mean in everyday language?
It typically means to break free from something or avoid a situation.
Can animals escape?
Yes, animals can escape from cages, predators, or other threats.
Is an escape always successful?
No, sometimes attempts to escape can fail.
Does an escape route refer to a physical path?
Typically, but it can also be a plan or strategy for getting out of a situation.
Is scape related to scope?
No, they are distinct words with different origins and meanings.
Can a gas escape?
Yes, gases can escape from containers or environments.
Is a seascape a view of the sea?
Yes, it's a picture or view of the sea or sea scenery.
Can one escape a feeling?
Yes, people often try to escape negative feelings or emotions.
Are there words that use scape as a suffix?
Yes, words like "landscape," "soundscape," and "cityscape."
Is escape always urgent?
Often it implies urgency, but it can be used in relaxed contexts too.
Do all plants have a scape?
No, only certain plants have a structure referred to as a scape.
What's another word similar to scape in botany?
Peduncle, though it has its specific botanical distinctions from scape.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
