Crossword Genius

Leaving the City area — it's stifling outside (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

decamping

'leaving' is the definition.
(decamping is a kind of leaving)

'the city area it's stifling outside' is the wordplay.
'the city area' becomes 'EC' (EC is a London postcode area).
'it's stifling' becomes 'damping' (damp or dampen can mean to stifle).
'outside' indicates putting letters inside.
'ec' going inside 'damping' is 'DECAMPING'.

(Another definition for decamping that I've seen is " suddenly going away".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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