evacuate

verb

evac·​u·​ate i-ˈva-kyə-ˌwāt 

-kyü-ˌāt

evacuated; evacuating

transitive verb

1

: to remove the contents of : empty

2

: to discharge from the body as waste : void

3

: to remove something (such as gas or water) from especially by pumping

4

a

: to remove especially from a military zone or dangerous area

b

: to withdraw from military occupation of

c

: vacate sense 1

were ordered to evacuate the building

intransitive verb

1

: to withdraw from a place in an organized way especially for protection

2

: to pass urine or feces from the body

evacuative

i-ˈva-kyə-ˌwā-tiv 

-kyü-ˌā-

adjective

Synonyms

• clear
• empty
• vacate
• void

Examples of evacuate in a Sentence

People who live along the coast are being evacuated as the hurricane approaches.

During World War II, children were evacuated from London to the country.

Residents were ordered to evacuate the building.

Residents have been ordered to evacuate.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Israeli military ordered residents in the southern suburbs to evacuate several locations on Wednesday. —Reuters, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024

Similar Reads 15 Super Cool Places to Camp in Colorado The Best Tents for Camping in Comfort and Style Cold (Cash) Comfort Almost roughing it on your honeymoon Canvas Tents Work as a System with Stoves Your base layers and waterproof-breathable hardshells don’t evacuate moisture on their own. —Wes Siler, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2024

According to Fulton County officials, a set of five bomb threats were called in to law enforcement officials in the morning for two polling sites in Union City, leading to police evacuating the locations to sweep them. —Yash Roy, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024

Against George’s wishes and Rita’s better judgment, George becomes one of the hundreds of thousands of children evacuated from the city during the Blitz. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, to draw off morbid humors, from Latin evacuatus, past participle of evacuare to empty, from e- + vacuus empty

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

evacuate

verb

evac·​u·​ate i-ˈvak-yə-ˌwāt 

evacuated; evacuating

1

: to make empty

2

: to discharge waste matter from the body

3

: to remove something (as a gas) from especially by pumping

4

a

: to remove troops or people from a place of danger

b

: vacate

evacuate the building

evacuation

-ˌvak-yə-ˈwā-shən

noun

Medical Definition

evacuate

verb

evac·​u·​ate i-ˈvak-yə-ˌwāt 

evacuated; evacuating

transitive verb

1

: to remove the contents of

evacuate an abscess

2

: to discharge (as urine or feces) from the body as waste : void

intransitive verb

: to pass urine or feces from the body

evacuative

-ˌwāt-iv 

adjective