exhume
Exhume (verb) means to dig up a body that has been buried. Example: “Investigators exhumed the remains for a fresh autopsy.”
How to use exhume
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo dig a body back up, or figuratively to revive something long buried or forgotten.
Word forms
exhumed past tense, exhumes singular
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.