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

The province’s information directorate said that Pakistani mortar fire hit civilian areas in Torkham, including a refugee camp, which had been evacuated overnight. —Munir Ahmed, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026

No one was injured in the fire in 2025, but more than 100 people living nearby evacuated from their homes due to air quality concerns as crews worked to get it under control. —Cbs News Philadelphia Staff, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026

So, if a bad storm is on track to hit Boca Raton, the building has to be evacuated, Police Chief Michele Miuccio said. —Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026

Damage and cracking was reported on the road and nearby residents and onlookers were evacuated for safety, according to San Juan de Urabá's Facebook posts. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 27 Feb. 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