evacuate

verb

evacuated; evacuating
Synonyms of evacuate

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This was recorded by her daughter in the USCP SUV as she was being evacuated from the Capitol. — Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026 The Secret Service evacuated Vice President Pence, while rioters breached more barriers and began to smash through windows, kicking doors open behind them for more rioters to stream in. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026 In the Farmington area of New Mexico, local officials said that swollen rivers were receding but that many people remained evacuated and hundreds were without power. — Anna Wilder, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026 The county is under an emergency declaration and residents in susceptible areas were told to evacuate Thursday afternoon. — Ava Berger, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for evacuate

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of evacuate was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Evacuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evacuate. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

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

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
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