evacuate
ih-VAK-yoo-ayt
Evacuate (verb) means to leave a dangerous place, or move people out of one, for their safety. Example: “Residents were told to evacuate before the hurricane made landfall.”
verb
1
To leave a dangerous place, or move people out of one, for their safety.
"Residents were told to evacuate before the hurricane made landfall."
"Firefighters evacuated the building within minutes of the alarm."
2
To empty something out completely, including creating a vacuum.
"Engineers evacuated the chamber before running the test."
How to use evacuate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo clear people out of a dangerous area, or to empty something out.
Common pairings
evacuate the building
evacuate residents
ordered to evacuate
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- evacuates
- Past tense
- evacuated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Residents were told to _____ before the hurricane made landfall.
Etymology
From Latin ēvacuō, "to empty out" — first used in English around 1526.
Class of 1526
evacuate joined the language around 1526.
See the full Class of 1526 →
Related words
Rhymes for evacuate
See all rhymes for evacuate →Frequently asked questions
What does “evacuate” mean?
The word “evacuate” means to leave a dangerous place, or move people out of one, for their safety. In plain terms, to clear people out of a dangerous area, or to empty something out.
How do you pronounce “evacuate”?
“Evacuate” is pronounced ih-VAK-yoo-ayt (/ɪˈvæk.ju.eɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “evacuate” in a sentence?
Here is “evacuate” used in a sentence: “Residents were told to evacuate before the hurricane made landfall.”
What part of speech is “evacuate”?
“Evacuate” is a verb.
Where does the word “evacuate” come from?
The word “evacuate” dates back to around 1526 and comes from Latin. From Latin ēvacuō, "to empty out" — first used in English around 1526.
Is “evacuate” a common word?
“Evacuate” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “evacuate” have?
“Evacuate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to leave a dangerous place, or move people out of one, for their safety.
