exhume

verb

ex·​hume ig-ˈzüm How to pronounce exhume (audio)
igz-ˈyüm,
iks-ˈ(h)yüm How to pronounce exhume (audio)
exhumed; exhuming

transitive verb

1
: disinter
exhume a body
2
: to bring back from neglect or obscurity
exhumed a great deal of information from the archives
exhumation noun
exhumer
ig-ˈzü-mər How to pronounce exhume (audio)
igz-ˈyü-
iks-ˈ(h)yü-
noun

Examples of exhume in a Sentence

the remains of John Paul Jones were exhumed in Paris and transported with great ceremony to the U.S. Naval Academy
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The remains were exhumed in September 2023 and transferred to the DPAA laboratory. Kerry Breen, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2025 Meanwhile, Atkinson’s first head coaching gig was exhuming the Brooklyn Nets from the bottom of the East River. Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 In 2019, his body was exhumed and placed on display in the Church of St. Mary Maggiore. Emily Harnett, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025 None of this is definitive, but exhuming Goldie’s body to collect and test some tissues could rule out (or rule in) a number of their lines of inquiry. Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for exhume

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin exhumare, from Latin ex out of + humus earth — more at ex-, humble

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of exhume was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exhume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhume. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

exhume

verb
ex·​hume igz-ˈ(y)üm How to pronounce exhume (audio)
iks-ˈ(h)yüm
exhumed; exhuming
: to remove from a place of burial
exhumation noun

Medical Definition

exhume

transitive verb
exhumed; exhuming
: disinter
the body was exhumed for an autopsy

More from Merriam-Webster on exhume

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