evacuation

noun evac·u·a·tion \ i-ˌva-kyə-ˈwā-shən , -kyü-ˈā- \

|Updated on: 16 Jul 2018

Definition of evacuation

1 : the act or process of evacuating

2 : something evacuated or discharged

Recent Examples of evacuation from the Web

According to Japan’s public broadcasting station, NHK World Japan, the evacuation orders followed the river bursting its bank and inundating the town, which is within the Hiroshima Prefecture.

— emily bloch, Teen Vogue, "Floods in Japan Leave at Least 176 People Dead," 11 July 2018
The last mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted in the Goleta area of Southern California where a small but destructive fire burned during the weekend.

— Fox News, "The Latest: 3 arrested in connection with Colorado wildfire," 10 July 2018
In western Nevada, all evacuation orders have been lifted and roads reopened near a fire that threatened as many as 30 homes on the Sierra’s eastern front about 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of Carson City.

— scott sonner, The Seattle Times, "Crews gaining on huge Nevada wildfire visible from space," 10 July 2018
The remaining road closures were lifted along with the evacuation orders.

— lyndsay winkley, latimes.com, "Number of structures lost in San Diego County fire more than doubles," 9 July 2018
The remaining road closures were lifted along with the evacuation orders.

— lyndsay winkley, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Count of homes damaged, destroyed by Alpine fire more than doubles," 8 July 2018
In parts of California, Colorado and Utah, hundreds of residents remain under evacuation orders because of the aggressive wildfires, the Weather Channel said.

— editors, USA TODAY, "Thai cave rescue mission, World Cup, Hurricane Beryl: 5 things to know this weekend," 7 July 2018
There were no evacuation orders and by 11 a.m. Cal Fire released air tankers from the fire and reported that crews would remain at the scene for several hours for mop-up.

— Ramona Sentinel, "Brush fires in Dulzura and Alpine; 114 degrees in Ramona," 6 July 2018
Some of the 2,500 people who were under mandatory evacuation orders were allowed to return home.

— CBS News, "More than 60 large wildfires burning across U.S.," 6 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'evacuation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.