escape key

UK/ɪˈskeɪp kiː/Canada, US/ɪˈskeɪp ki/Australia/ɪˈskæɪp kiː/New Zealand/əˈskæɪp kiː/

noun

A key on a computer keyboard that can be used to cancel an operation.

Meanings

escape key1

nounescape key (plural escape keys)

plural escape keys

  1. computingA key on a computer keyboard that can be used to cancel an operation.

    Synonyms: ␛, Esc, escape

Escape key2

nounEscape key (countable and uncountable, plural Escape keys)

plural Escape keys

  1. countableuncountableSynonym of Esc key.

    Synonyms: Esc key

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA key on a computer keyboard that can be used to cancel an operation.

Similar

nounSynonym of Esc key.

Similar

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 退出鍵 /退出键, 逸出鍵 /逸出键
  • 退出鍵 /退出键 (tuìchūjiàn)key on a personal computer
  • 逸出鍵 /逸出键 (yìchūjiàn)key on a personal computer
Finnish poistumisnäppäin, esc-näppäin
  • poistumisnäppäinkey on a personal computer
  • esc-näppäinkey on a personal computer
Japanese エスケープキー, エスケープ
  • エスケープキー (esukēpu kī)key on a personal computer
  • エスケープ (esukēpu)key on a personal computer
Korean 이스케이프 키, 이스케이프
  • 이스케이프 키 (iseukeipeu ki)key on a personal computer
  • 이스케이프 (iseukeipeu)key on a personal computer
Russian эске́йп, кла́виша эске́йп
  • эске́йп (eskéjp)key on a personal computer
  • кла́виша эске́йп (kláviša eskéjp)key on a personal computer
Vietnamese phím thoát
  • phím thoátkey on a personal computer
Cite this entry
APA

escape key. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/escape%20key

MLA

“escape key.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/escape%20key. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “escape key,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/escape%20key.

Source: escape key on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.