break - make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing; "The ranks broke"

stampede - run away in a stampede

abscond, absquatulate, go off, run off, decamp, bolt - run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along

elope, run off - run away secretly with one's beloved; "The young couple eloped and got married in Las Vegas"

escape, get away, break loose - run away from confinement; "The convicted murderer escaped from a high security prison"

fly the coop, head for the hills, hightail it, lam, run away, scarper, take to the woods, turn tail, run, bunk, break away, escape - flee; take to one's heels; cut and run; "If you see this man, run!"; "The burglars escaped before the police showed up"

high-tail - retreat at full speed; "The actress haigh-tailed to her villa when reporters began to follow her to the restaurant"

defect, desert - desert (a cause, a country or an army), often in order to join the opposing cause, country, or army; "If soldiers deserted Hitler's army, they were shot"