Evacuated
ɪˈvæk.ju.eɪ.tɪd
Definitions
2 meaningsTo remove (someone) from a place of danger to a safer place.
ɪˈvæk.ju.eɪt
To remove someone from a place of danger to a safer place.
The hospital evacuated patients when the fire alarm went off.
💡 Simply: Imagine there's a fire alarm! Evacuate means everyone needs to leave the building quickly and go outside to be safe. It’s like a fast, safe getaway!
👶 For kids: To take people away from a dangerous place to a safe place.
More Examples
The army evacuated the civilians from the war zone.
Authorities ordered the town to be evacuated due to the flood.
How It's Used
"The residents were evacuated from their homes due to the approaching hurricane."
"The wounded soldiers were evacuated from the battlefield."
To empty (a place) of its contents or occupants.
ɪˈvæk.ju.eɪt
To empty (a place) of occupants or contents.
The warehouse was evacuated of all its inventory.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're cleaning your room and need to get rid of all the clutter to make space. Evacuate is like emptying the contents of something—like a container or even your digestive system!
👶 For kids: To make a place empty.
More Examples
They decided to evacuate the building.
The crew was ordered to evacuate the spaceship.
How It's Used
"The doctor instructed the patient to evacuate their bowels before the surgery."
"The engineers evacuated the waste from the tank."
From Latin evacuatus, past participle of evacuare, meaning 'to empty out'.
The word 'evacuate' has been used since the early 17th century, initially to describe emptying of the body, and later to describe the removal of people from a dangerous place.
Memory tip
Think of 'vacate' – to leave. Evacuate is to leave because of danger.