 Is the word retreat used in that story? It's fled. The sheriff said, yeah, the officer made contact with the gunman after being hoisted up to the roof by another officer, but fled when the sniper pointed his AR-style assault rifle at the officer. Is the word fled an accident, or is that an action you take? That's an action you take. Right. If you flee or you have fled, then you are making the decision to take off.