evacuate
verb
evac·u·ate
i-ˈva-kyə-ˌwāt 
-kyü-ˌāt
evacuated; evacuating
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
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
More than 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes.
—
Jack Dunn, Variety, 8 Jan. 2025
The entire Pacific Palisades neighborhood, located west of downtown L.A., had been ordered to evacuate, The New York Times reported.
—David Chiu, People.com, 8 Jan. 2025
At least 30,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2025
Palisades fire More than 30,000 people in Los Angeles County have been ordered to evacuate as the Palisades Fire, one of several wildfires that broke out on Tuesday morning, blazed through the Pacific Palisades community.
—Russell Lewis, NPR, 8 Jan. 2025
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Dictionary Entries Near evacuate
Cite this Entry
“Evacuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evacuate. Accessed 11 Jan. 2025.
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
noun
-ˌvak-yə-ˈwā-shən
Medical Definition
evacuate
verb
evac·u·ate
i-ˈvak-yə-ˌwāt
evacuated; evacuating
1
: to remove the contents of
evacuate an abscess
2
: to discharge (as urine or feces) from the body as waste : void
: to pass urine or feces from the body
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