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evacuate

ih-VAK-yoo-ayt /ɪˈvækjueɪt/

verbB2TOEFLIELTS

neutralofficial

To remove people from a place of danger to a safe place; or to empty a space.

Careful distinction: in modern usage, you evacuate people from a place, or you evacuate a place (empty it).

The story behind the word. Traces directly to Latin evacuare, meaning 'to empty out' (from e- 'out' and vacuus 'empty'). Originally a medical term for clearing bodily fluids, by the 17th century it expanded to removing troops or civilians from vulnerable fortresses.

Word relationships

vacate: Vacate means simply leaving a room or property empty, whereas evacuate implies escaping danger or emergency removal.
relocate: Relocate implies establishing a new home or business location permanently or long-term.

occupy: To take up residence or remain present in a location.

Commonly confused with

vacuum: Vacuum is a noun/verb for an empty space or suction device, though both derive from Latin vacuus (empty).

Word family

evacuation (noun): The process of emptying or clearing an area for safety.
evacuee (noun): A person evacuated from a dangerous place.

Collocations

evacuate the area
order to evacuate
evacuate residents
evacuate safely

Example sentences

"Authorities ordered all coastal residents to evacuate immediately ahead of the approaching category five storm." Civil defense order
"When the fire alarm sounded, staff moved quickly to evacuate the building in an orderly manner." Building safety procedure

Memory hook

E-VACUATE = make VACANT for safety. Empty out a place for safety.

When not to use

Do not say 'we evacuated the patient' when you mean treated them medically, unless you mean moving them out of danger.

Fun facts

During World War II, Operation Pied Piper evacuated over 1.5 million British children from cities to rural areas in three days.