escape room

noun

plural escape rooms

: a game in which participants confined to a room or other enclosed setting (such as a prison cell) are given a set amount of time to find a way to escape (as by discovering hidden clues and solving a series of riddles or puzzles)

Escape rooms are a game where a group of friends or co-workers get locked into a space to play some puzzles, so they can all win the reward of leaving the room slightly early.

—Nick Douglas

One of the most interesting fusions of digital culture with an older form—in this case, theater—is the escape room, which locks people behind a closed door and asks them to find a way out.

—Chris Suellentrop

also : a place or business where this game is played

This is The Lock Boxx, a new mobile escape room based out of San Luis Obispo County. Customers are "locked" inside the trailer until they can solve the appropriate puzzles and break free.

—Jarod Urrutia

Examples of escape room in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There's a Sea Life aquarium, mini golf, arcades, escape rooms and a psychedelic fun house called Wink World. —Alina Selyukh, NPR, 28 Nov. 2024

In these games the focus can instead be on parkour, role-playing, escape rooms and hide-and-seek. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024

While the festival begins on Friday (Oct. 18), the escape room will open up to the public on Monday (Oct. 21). —Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 15 Oct. 2024

Both the escape room and festival will take place at the West Shreveport Branch location, at 4380 Pines Road and is free and open to the public from 3:50 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. —Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

2012, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

escape room

noun

: a game in which players confined to a room attempt to escape by discovering hidden clues and solving puzzles or riddles