Words / C1

i-VAK-yoo-ayt/ɪˈvækjueɪt/

To evacuate is to move people from a dangerous place to a safer one: evacuate the school, evacuate the area. Leave and get out are everyday; clear is close for a building. Evacuation is the noun. You evacuate people (or, in some uses, a place is evacuated). In speech, get everyone out is enough. Official emergency language. Do not use evacuate for popping out to the shops.

Meaning

To move people from a dangerous place to a safer one.

Examples

• “The school was evacuated after the alarm.”
• “The school was evacuated after the alarm; registers were taken on the field.”
• “Residents were evacuated overnight while the gas leak was traced.”

Good to know

Move people out to safety. Noun: evacuation. Everyday: get everyone out. Official/emergency. Evacuate people / a building is evacuated. Not a casual exit.

Near in meaning

clear

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