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

• clear
• empty
• vacate
• void

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

As a result, some firefighters had to use their personal vehicles, including mopeds, to evacuate people trapped inside burning buildings. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024

Palmer was fined more than $44,000 by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for failing to evacuate. —Michael Rubinkam, Quartz, 17 Apr. 2024

The next morning, workers at the clinic smelled gasoline and were forced to evacuate the building, according to court documents. —Josh Cain, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2024

Hundreds of thousands of Canadians evacuated from their homes as the wildfires ravaged the country. —Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2024

The View itself turned into a literal Hot Topic Wednesday, after the talk show's New York City studio was evacuated when a fire broke out on the neighboring Tamron Hall show set. —Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2024

Police searched Buell Hall, Putnam Hall and Wise Hall, and found no suspicious items or evidence of a bomb threat, as of 2:37 p.m. Officials also evacuated Best Hall, Downing Hall, DC1, Eateries, Phelps Hall and Walton Hall as a precaution. —Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 9 Apr. 2024

Two days after the crash, residents were evacuated over fears the tankers could explode. —Mark Osborne, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2024

Police are investigating a bomb threat made Tuesday against Brookfield Elementary School that caused the school to be evacuated. —Journal Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2024

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

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