evacuate

[ih-vak-yoo-eyt]

verb (used with object)

evacuated, evacuating 

1. to leave empty; vacate.

   Synonyms: drain, void, empty

2. to remove (persons or things) from a place, as a dangerous place or disaster area, for reasons of safety or protection.

   to evacuate the inhabitants of towns in the path of a flood.

3. to remove persons from (a city, town, building, area, etc.) for reasons of safety.

   to evacuate the embassy after a bomb threat.

4. Military.

   1. to remove (troops, wounded soldiers, civilians, etc.) from a war zone, combat area, etc.

   2. to withdraw from or quit (a town, fort, etc., that has been occupied).

5. Physiology.,  to discharge or eject as through the excretory passages, especially from the bowels.

6. to deprive.

   Fear evacuated their minds of reason.

7. to produce a vacuum in.

verb (used without object)

evacuated, evacuating 

1. to leave a place because of military or other threats.

2. to void; defecate.

evacuate

/ ɪˈvækjʊˌeɪt /

verb

1. (also intr) to withdraw or cause to withdraw from (a place of danger) to a place of greater safety

2. to make empty by removing the contents of

3. (also intr) physiol

   1. to eliminate or excrete (faeces); defecate

   2. to discharge (any waste product) from (a part of the body)

4. (tr) to create a vacuum in (a bulb, flask, reaction vessel, etc)

Other Word Forms

• reevacuate verb
• unevacuated adjective
• evacuative adjective
• evacuation noun
• evacuator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of evacuate¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin ēvacuātus “emptied out” (past participle of ēvacuāre, equivalent to ē- + vacuāre ); e- ¹, vacuum, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of evacuate¹

C16: from Latin ēvacuāre to void, from vacuus empty

Example Sentences

"It's another planet, not just another world," says Sana el-Azab, who arrived in the cathedral city late last month after being evacuated to the UK with 33 other students.

Read more on BBC

California has taken a number of steps over the years to help local officials alert residents in a disaster and evacuate them to safety.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Williams followed up with the mayor and other high-ranking officials some time later with several other texts, saying that there was no need to evacuate City Hall.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The Culver City Police Department said that TikTok employees received a threat on social media Friday, prompting security to evacuate the Bristol Parkway location.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“What do you think I’m coordinating? How to evacuate someone who is sick; how to provide food, water and services.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abandon 
• depart 
• desert 
• discharge 
• displace 
• expel 
• leave 
• move out 
• pull out 
• remove 
• vacate 
• withdraw