verb
exhume
ehks-YOOM
Exhume (verb) means to dig up a body that has been buried. Example: “Investigators exhumed the remains for a fresh autopsy.”
verb
1
To dig up a body that has been buried.
"Investigators exhumed the remains for a fresh autopsy."
2
To bring something back to light after it has been hidden or forgotten.
"Memorial was permeated by a sense of mission, a moral imperative to exhume the truth and display it to the eyes of its compatriots, whatever feelings of shame, outrage, denial, or shock might ensue."
— S. E. Wilmer, Writing and Rewriting National Theatre Histories (2009)
"Long dead traditions are exhumed just for the tourists."
"The documentary exhumed old scandals nobody had thought about in decades."
How to use exhume
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo dig a body back up, or figuratively to revive something long buried or forgotten.
Common pairings
exhume a body
exhume the remains
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- exhumes
- Past tense
- exhumed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Investigators _____ the remains for a fresh autopsy.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin exhumare, from ex- ("out of") plus humus ("ground, earth") — literally "to bring out of the ground."
Related words
Rhymes for exhume
See all rhymes for exhume →Frequently asked questions
What does “exhume” mean?
The word “exhume” means to dig up a body that has been buried. In plain terms, to dig a body back up, or figuratively to revive something long buried or forgotten.
How do you pronounce “exhume”?
“Exhume” is pronounced ehks-YOOM (/ɛkˈs(j)um/ in IPA).
How do you use “exhume” in a sentence?
Here is “exhume” used in a sentence: “Investigators exhumed the remains for a fresh autopsy.”
What is another word for “exhume”?
Words with a similar meaning to “exhume” include dig up, disinter, unbury and unearth.
What is the opposite of “exhume”?
The opposite of “exhume” — its antonyms — are bury, inhume and inter.
What part of speech is “exhume”?
“Exhume” is a verb.
Where does the word “exhume” come from?
The word “exhume” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin exhumare, from ex- ("out of") plus humus ("ground, earth") — literally "to bring out of the ground.".
How many meanings does “exhume” have?
“Exhume” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to dig up a body that has been buried.
