evacuate

USAGE SUMMARY

“evacuate” is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used to mean “to leave a dangerous place or area quickly, especially when there is a possible danger or threat.” For example, “Due to rising floodwaters, officials asked all residents to evacuate their homes.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Seven had to evacuate its Martin Place glass studios and relocate and build a temporary Sydney newsroom and TV studio in its corporate Pyrmont offices, all while staying on air and providing rolling coverage.

The Guardian

He said the residents had been warned to evacuate Gombe, which has been attacked by the insurgents previously.

The Guardian

Passengers aboard a scientific research ship stuck in sea ice near the coast of Antarctica are preparing to spend another night on the vessel after plans to evacuate them by helicopter were aborted.

The Guardian

Ambulances tried to evacuate patients but were forced to turn back by continued shelling.

The Guardian

British transport police (BTP) had to evacuate stranded passengers outside the south London station, with conditions on board described as a "nightmare" by one commuter.

The Guardian

Other reports suggested the weather had been bad in the notoriously rough Sea of Okhotsk and an helicopter had been unable to evacuate survivors from a temporary hospital on board a nearby ship due to strong winds.

The Guardian

"I think that anyone who moves to establish a Palestinian state and evacuate territory gives territory away to radical Islamist attacks against Israel," Netanyahu said.

The Guardian

I went down to my best mate Glen Fiske's house where his wife Liz and son Dalton were, and told them to evacuate.

The Guardian

More than 60 people were injured, leading climbers to send frantic messages calling for helicopter assistance to evacuate the wounded.

The Guardian

At the start of the third one, the fire alarm went, and we had to evacuate the building.

The Guardian

I'd hoped they'd escaped on foot and went looking for them at the village sports oval, where the locals who didn't evacuate were sheltering.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about emergency situations, use "evacuate" to clearly communicate the need for people to leave a dangerous area for their safety.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "evacuate" with similar verbs like "immigrate" or "emigrate". "Evacuate" specifically refers to a temporary or emergency departure, while "immigrate" and "emigrate" refer to permanent relocation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "evacuate" is as a verb. It describes the act of moving people or things away from a place, especially due to danger. Ludwig AI's examples show it used in various contexts, such as evacuating a building or a city.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

22%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "evacuate" is a versatile verb that signifies the act of removing people or things from a dangerous place. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used. Its usage spans from news reports to formal instructions, emphasizing the urgency and safety concerns involved. Though primarily found in news and formal contexts, "evacuate" maintains a neutral tone suitable for various communications. When using "evacuate", ensure clarity and avoid confusion with similar verbs like "immigrate" or "relocate".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

displace

Highlights the involuntary movement of people from their homes.

remove

A general term for taking something or someone away from a place.

rescue

Emphasizes saving people from a dangerous situation.

clear out

Implies removing people or things from a place, often quickly or completely.

extract

Suggests removing something or someone with difficulty or force.

withdraw

Suggests a more organized or strategic removal, often of troops or resources.

relocate

Focuses on moving something or someone to a new location.

clear

Implies removing obstacles or unwanted elements from a place.

transfer

Implies moving something from one place to another, often within a system.

leave

A simple term for departing from a place.

FAQs

How is "evacuate" typically used in a sentence?

The verb "evacuate" is commonly used to describe the process of removing people from a dangerous area. For example: "The authorities ordered residents to "evacuate" due to the approaching hurricane."

What are some synonyms for "evacuate"?

Alternatives to "evacuate" include "clear out", "remove", or "withdraw", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "evacuate from" or simply "evacuate"?

While "evacuate from" is sometimes used, it's generally more concise and common to simply use "evacuate". For instance, "We need to "evacuate" the building" is preferred over "We need to evacuate from the building".

What is the difference between "evacuate" and "relocate"?

"Evacuate" implies a temporary or emergency departure from a dangerous place, while "relocate" suggests moving to a new place more permanently or strategically.