decamp

1 of 2

verb

de·​camp di-ˈkamp 

dē-

decamped; decamping; decamps

intransitive verb

1

: to break up a camp

2

: to depart suddenly : abscond

decampment

di-ˈkamp-mənt 

dē-

noun

decampment

2 of 2

noun

de·​camp·​ment di-ˈkamp-mənt 

dē-

plural -s

: the act or process of decamping : departure from a camp

Examples of decamp in a Sentence

Verb

She took the papers and decamped.

He decamped to Europe soon after news of the scandal broke.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Bread & Butter’s title track is the only time when things decamp to the treacly, mostly because of how Cartunez’s syrupy beat drowns out Droog’s hazy memories of 9/11 and descriptions of a side chick who looks like Ronnie from The Player’s Club. — Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026

Boomers, for example, are decamping to places like Arizona, Nevada and Texas, the data show. — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

The residents became the kind of friends who moved easily between one another’s houses, watched one another’s children grow up, and even traveled together—a group of 17 once decamped to Greece with the kids in tow. — Kristen Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026

Like technology, the Santiago, Chile native moves fast, decamping to Mexico City less than a week after deciding Toku would enter the country. — Harry Booth, Time, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

French décamper, from Middle French descamper, from des- de- + camper to camp

Noun

French décampement, from décamper to decamp + -ment

First Known Use

Verb

1676, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for decamp

• encamp
• headlamp
• preamp
• revamp
• timestamp
• amp
• champ
• clamp
• cramp
• damp
• gamp
• lamp

Kids Definition

decamp

verb

de·​camp di-ˈkamp 

1

: to pack up gear and leave a camp

2

: to depart suddenly : abscond

decamped with the funds

decampment

-mənt 

noun