evacuate
verb
evac·u·ate
i-ˈva-kyə-ˌwāt 
-kyü-ˌāt
evacuated; evacuating
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
1
: to withdraw from a place in an organized way especially for protection
2
: to pass urine or feces from the body
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
Meanwhile, Iran’s stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium continues to grow, Israeli officials are openly weighing military options, and the United States is evacuating diplomats and military families from Iraq due to rising tensions.
—
Jane Harman, Time, 13 June 2025
Officials received a distress call just after 9 a.m. Thursday, June 12, reporting that the crew of the 57-foot sport fisher was evacuating using a life raft after the boat started taking on water, the United States Coast Guard said in a June 12 news release.
—Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
Embassy officials learned of the threat and evacuated the agent, according to interviews.
—T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 12 June 2025
The ensuing devastation killed at least 30 people, forced more than 200,000 to evacuate, destroyed more than 18,000 homes and structures, and burned over 57,000 acres of land in total.
—Sabbir Rangwala, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for evacuate
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Jane Harman, Time, 13 June 2025
Officials received a distress call just after 9 a.m. Thursday, June 12, reporting that the crew of the 57-foot sport fisher was evacuating using a life raft after the boat started taking on water, the United States Coast Guard said in a June 12 news release.
—Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
Embassy officials learned of the threat and evacuated the agent, according to interviews.
—T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 12 June 2025
The ensuing devastation killed at least 30 people, forced more than 200,000 to evacuate, destroyed more than 18,000 homes and structures, and burned over 57,000 acres of land in total.
—Sabbir Rangwala, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for evacuate
Cite this Entry
“Evacuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evacuate. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
noun
-ˌvak-yə-ˈwā-shən
Medical Definition
evacuate
verb
evac·u·ate
i-ˈvak-yə-ˌwāt
evacuated; evacuating
1
: to remove the contents of
evacuate an abscess
2
: to discharge (as urine or feces) from the body as waste : void
: to pass urine or feces from the body
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