evacuate
ih-VAK-yoo-ayt
/ɪˈvæk.ju.eɪt/
To remove occupants from a place of danger to a safe area; to clear out a building or area.
Refers to organized, safety-driven movement of people away from active or impending hazards.
The story behind the word. From Latin evacuatus, past participle of evacuare (to empty out), built from ex- (out) and vacuus (empty, vacuum).
Word relationships
- clear out: Clear out is informal, whereas evacuate is official emergency language.
- vacate: Vacate means leaving a residence or property permanently or legally, not necessarily under emergency threat.
- occupy: Occupy means moving into or staying inside a space.
- shelter in place: Sheltering in place means remaining inside rather than evacuating.
Commonly confused with
- vacate: Evacuate emphasizes emergency safety departure; vacate emphasizes emptying premises of tenancy.
Word family
- evacuation (noun): The act of evacuating people from a dangerous place.
- evacuee (noun): A person evacuated from a dangerous place.
Collocations
- evacuate residents
- evacuate the building
- order to evacuate
Example sentences
- "Authorities ordered residents to evacuate the neighborhood as wildfire smoke drifted closer." Emergency Broadcast
- "When the fire alarm sounded, workers systematically evacuated the building via stairwells." Building Safety
Memory hook
EVACUATE makes a space VACANT in an emergency. Empty out for safety.
When not to use
Avoid using to mean simply walking out of a room for a break.
Fun facts
- In emergency management syntax, strictly speaking, places are evacuated, while people are rescued or relocated.
Related words
Explore more words
excavate, isolate, withdraw, depopulation, protect, displacement
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