What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shirk
Example
He always tries to shirk his responsibilities at work. [shirk: verb]
Example
She was accused of shirking her duties as a team leader. [shirking: gerund or present participle]
escape
Example
The hiker managed to escape from the bear by climbing up a tree. [escape: verb]
Example
Reading books is a great way to escape from reality for a while. [escape: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Escape is more commonly used than shirk in everyday language. Escape is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while shirk is less common and refers to a specific type of avoidance.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between shirk and escape?
Both shirk and escape are relatively informal words, but shirk may be considered slightly more informal due to its negative connotation.
