# escort

/ˈɛskɔɹt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/escort
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to accompany for protection

verb · CEFR B2

to go with someone to make sure they are safe or to show them the way.

For teachers: to accompany a person, vehicle, or group for the purpose of protection, guidance, or security.

- Security guards will escort the famous singer to her car after the show.
- The naval fleet was ordered to escort the merchant vessels through the high-risk zone to prevent any potential interference from hostile forces.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

### 2. to go with socially

verb · CEFR B2

to go with someone to a social event, often as their partner.

For teachers: to accompany someone to a social gathering or formal event, typically as a partner or companion.

- He was proud to escort his daughter to the school dance.
- The diplomat was invited to escort the visiting dignitary to the gala dinner held at the embassy.

Usage: Often used in formal social contexts.

### 3. a protective group or person

noun · CEFR B2

a person or a group of people who travel with someone to protect them.

For teachers: a person, vehicle, or group of vehicles accompanying another for protection or as a mark of rank.

- The president traveled with a police escort to the airport.
- The armored convoy moved slowly through the city streets, flanked by a heavy military escort to deter any assassination attempts.

### 4. a social companion

noun · CEFR B2

someone who goes with you to a social event.

For teachers: a person who accompanies another to a social event, often for the sake of appearance or etiquette.

- She needed an escort for the wedding, so she asked her brother to go.
- In traditional high-society circles, it was once considered improper for a young woman to attend a ball without a suitable escort.

### 5. professional companion

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a person paid to go to social events with someone, or sometimes a sex worker.

For teachers: a person whose company is hired for social occasions, or a euphemism for a sex worker who meets clients by appointment.

- He hired an escort to accompany him to the corporate dinner so he wouldn't be alone.
- The agency specialized in providing professional escorts for high-profile clients who required a sophisticated companion for public appearances.

Teaching tip: In modern contexts, this word is frequently used as a polite or legal term for a sex worker; learners should be aware of this double meaning.

## Examples

- The president traveled with a police escort.
- Visitors to the high-security facility must remain with their official escort at all times while on the premises.
- The naval fleet provided a heavy escort for the merchant vessels as they navigated the narrow strait, which was known for its unpredictable currents and pirate activity.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.