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 of evacuate

• empty
• vacate
• clear
• clean

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

Bystanders and Kauai Fire Department crews rescued and medically evacuated two survivors to Wilcox Medical Center in Lihue, Hawaii, the Coast Guard said. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026

Boxer also has heavy-lift and attack helicopters, as well as MV-22B Osprey, fast, long-range tilt-rotor aircraft used to transport troops and equipment, and to evacuate the wounded. —Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026

Audio picks up more explosions after the initial blast, and officers call for the area to be evacuated. —Siafa Lewis, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026

Kyle Fraser was medically evacuated in episode 1 due to a ruptured achilles tendon (season 48, winner). —Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 26 Mar. 2026

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

Rhymes for evacuate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

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