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
The powerful storm was forecast to make landfall in the evening near Guangdong, China, where local officials called for about two million people to be evacuated.
—
Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
Outpatient services at the neighboring hospital were suspended and around 3,500 inpatients were evacuated, per the Post.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
In Zhuhai, a coastal city neighboring Macao, residents of seaside high-rises were ordered to evacuate on Tuesday afternoon, according to state media, with many taking refuge with relatives, checking into hotels, or moving into temporary government shelters like school gyms.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
But when the hotel caught fire and Dillinger's gang was evacuated from the building, some gang members were worried about their luggage and tipped firefighters $12 to retrieve it.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for evacuate
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Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
Outpatient services at the neighboring hospital were suspended and around 3,500 inpatients were evacuated, per the Post.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
In Zhuhai, a coastal city neighboring Macao, residents of seaside high-rises were ordered to evacuate on Tuesday afternoon, according to state media, with many taking refuge with relatives, checking into hotels, or moving into temporary government shelters like school gyms.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
But when the hotel caught fire and Dillinger's gang was evacuated from the building, some gang members were worried about their luggage and tipped firefighters $12 to retrieve it.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 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 30 Sep. 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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