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
Forty-eight children were evacuated from the kindergarten.
—
Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2025
Kyiv said nearly 50 children were evacuated from the scene of the drone strike in Kharkiv, which killed one person and injured seven others.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Anaver later took shelter at his brother’s house, but was eventually evacuated to a local school, KTVA reported.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Active volcanoes and lava fields nearby create a stunning landscape—but also mean you could be evacuated at a moment’s notice.
—Maya Silver, Outside, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for evacuate
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.
Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2025
Kyiv said nearly 50 children were evacuated from the scene of the drone strike in Kharkiv, which killed one person and injured seven others.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Anaver later took shelter at his brother’s house, but was eventually evacuated to a local school, KTVA reported.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Active volcanoes and lava fields nearby create a stunning landscape—but also mean you could be evacuated at a moment’s notice.
—Maya Silver, Outside, 21 Oct. 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 23 Oct. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share