1 exhumation | Definition of exhumation

exhume

verb
ex·​hume | \ ig-ˈzüm How to pronounce exhume (audio) , igz-ˈyüm, iks-ˈ(h)yüm\
exhumed; exhuming

Definition of exhume

transitive verb

1 : disinter exhume a body
2 : to bring back from neglect or obscurity exhumed a great deal of information from the archives

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from exhume

exhumation \ ˌeks-​(h)yü-​ˈmā-​shən How to pronounce exhumation (audio) , ˌeg-​zü-​ , ˌegz-​yü-​ \ noun
exhumer \ ig-​ˈzü-​mər How to pronounce exhumer (audio) , igz-​ˈyü-​ , iks-​ˈ(h)yü-​ \ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for exhume

Synonyms

disinter, unearth

Antonyms

bury, entomb, inhume, inter, tomb

Visit the Thesaurus for More 

Examples of exhume in a Sentence

the remains of John Paul Jones were exhumed in Paris and transported with great ceremony to the U.S. Naval Academy

Recent Examples on the Web

In October, investigators exhumed McDermott’s body, followed by Shaw’s. Susan Keating, PEOPLE.com, "2 Veterans Were Murdered at a West Virginia VA Hospital, and Investigators Have Person of Interest," 30 Aug. 2019 The fear from long ago that the dead could still harm the living was only intensified when dead bodies were exhumed and appeared to have blood coming out of their mouths. Leah Hall, Country Living, "Fact or Fiction: Are Vampires Real?," 14 Aug. 2019 The last major twist in the case came in 2012, when forensic police exhumed the body of a reputed mobster from the crypt of a Roman basilica in hopes of finding Orlandi’s remains as well. NBC News, "Vatican mystery deepens over 15-year-old girl missing since 1983; bones found," 13 July 2019 The last major twist in the case came in 2012 when forensic police exhumed the body of a reputed mobster from the crypt of a Roman basilica in hopes of finding Orlandi's remains as well. Fox News, "Vatican finds bones, deepening mystery in search for girl who disappeared 36 years ago," 13 July 2019 Blumental also exhumed their bodies and buried them in the Jewish cemetery in Warsaw. Gal Beckerman, New York Times, "The Holocaust Survivor Who Deciphered Nazi Doublespeak," 24 June 2019 Read more: Notorious gangster John Dillinger will be exhumed from his grave. Kayla Epstein, Washington Post, "The leader of a meth-dealing white supremacist gang escaped from jail with the dummy-in-the-bed trick," 2 Aug. 2019 Indiana health department spokeswoman Jeni O'Malley said that based on the permit, the agency expects Dillinger's body will be exhumed and reinterred on Sept. 16 - the date listed on the document. CBS News, "Exhumation of 1930s gangster John Dillinger may end conspiracy theories, but dig won't be easy," 31 July 2019 The body of John Dillinger, the notorious 1930s bank robber depicted in numerous Hollywood films through the years, will be exhumed from its Indianapolis burial site, the Indiana State Department of Health confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. Ryan Parker, The Hollywood Reporter, "John Dillinger's Body to Be Exhumed From Indiana Cemetery," 30 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'exhume.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of exhume

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for exhume

Middle English, from Medieval Latin exhumare, from Latin ex out of + humus earth — more at ex-, humble

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for exhume

exhume

verb

English Language Learners Definition of exhume

formal : to remove (a body) from the place where it is buried
ex·​hume | \ igz-ˈ(y)üm How to pronounce exhume (audio) , iks-ˈ(h)yüm How to pronounce exhume (audio) \
exhumed; exhuming

Medical Definition of exhume

: disinter the body was exhumed for an autopsy

Other Words from exhume

exhumation \ ˌeks-​(h)yü-​ˈmā-​shən How to pronounce exhumation (audio) , ˌegz-​(y)ü-​ How to pronounce exhumation (audio) \ noun

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on exhume

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for exhume

Spanish Central: Translation of exhume

Nglish: Translation of exhume for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of exhume for Arabic Speakers