evacuate

[ ih-vak-yoo-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, e·vac·u·at·ed, e·vac·u·at·ing.

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)

, e·vac·u·at·ed, e·vac·u·at·ing.

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)

Derived Forms

• eˌvacuˈation, noun
• eˈvacuˌator, noun
• eˈvacuative, adjective

Other Words From

• ree·vacu·ate verb reevacuated reevacuating
• une·vacu·ated adjective

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

Late last year, the city moved employees into the downtown high-rise, only to evacuate them a few weeks later after the building was declared a public nuisance.

From Voice of San Diego

So far, five people have died in the fires and more than 119,000 others have had to evacuate from their homes.

From Fortune

After the city evacuated the building, Faulconer initiated a forensic review and tapped three outside law firms to address different aspects of the overall project.

From Voice of San Diego

The city responded by voluntarily shutting down the building and evacuating employees who had already moved in.

From Voice of San Diego

Most critically, the county identified that one of the project’s two routes, West Lilac Road, presents an entrapment risk in the event people need to evacuate for a wildfire.

From Voice of San Diego

But where do you evacuate to, when the world is about to end?

From The Daily Beast

De Merode was ordered to evacuate the national park he served at the time.

From The Daily Beast

He was helping to evacuate people from the stricken North Tower when the second plane hit.

From The Daily Beast

There is no plan as of yet to evacuate Dr. Brantly to a Western facility, Isaacs said.

From The Daily Beast

Earlier this month, the friendliest of them, 31-year-old Denis, told us they were given very short notice to evacuate Sloviansk.

From The Daily Beast

The leaguers were now anxious to co-operate with the Americans in compelling the Spaniards to evacuate the Archipelago.

From Project Gutenberg

The commander-in-chief overrated the fighting qualities of the Neapolitan troops and thought it prudent to evacuate Rome.

From Project Gutenberg

The situation was hopeless; the only wise course was to evacuate all garrisons in Germany and retire on the Saale.

From Project Gutenberg

Consequently, he had his lighter baggage moved and had his troops evacuate the area.

From Project Gutenberg

At the same time also Ibrahim Pacha was directed by his father to evacuate Syria.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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