exhume
verb
ex·hume ig-ˈzüm 
igz-ˈyüm,
iks-ˈ(h)yüm
exhumed; exhuming
transitive verb
1
: disinter
exhume a body
2
: to bring back from neglect or obscurity
exhumed a great deal of information from the archives
exhumation
ˌeks-(h)yü-ˈmā-shən
noun ˌeg-zü-
ˌegz-yü-
exhumer
ig-ˈzü-mər
noun igz-ˈyü-
iks-ˈ(h)yü-
Synonyms
- disinter
- unearth
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Lawyers for the OnlyFans model accused of murdering her boyfriend in Miami won’t seek to exhume the slain man’s body. 
David Ovalle, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2022 In recent years, similar findings have prompted the government to exhume misidentified war dead in Mississippi, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Maine and even one at West Point, where the agency quietly opened a grave in 2019. New York Times, 11 June 2022 Go to the cemetery and exhume the bodies and see which one looked too fresh — blood in the vital organs. BostonGlobe.com, 26 Oct. 2021 Olga Kotenko waits as investigators exhume the remains of her son last week in Vilhivka. Lauren Egan, NBC News, 31 May 2022 Now Snoddy and the estate of Gilbreth, who died in 2005, are trying to market the tapes, hoping to exhume and showcase the music made at the Nugget 55 years ago. New York Times, 21 Apr. 2022 Another issue is whether the Six Nations will decide to exhume remains to identify them through DNA tests and determine cause of death — a prelude to holding anyone accountable in court. Ian Austen, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Dec. 2021 Another issue is whether the Six Nations will decide to exhume remains to identify them through D.N.A. tests and determine cause of death — a prelude to holding anyone accountable in court. Ian Austen, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2021 The question of whether to exhume remains has been divisive in many Indigenous communities. Ian Austen, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Dec. 2021 See More
David Ovalle, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2022 In recent years, similar findings have prompted the government to exhume misidentified war dead in Mississippi, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Maine and even one at West Point, where the agency quietly opened a grave in 2019. New York Times, 11 June 2022 Go to the cemetery and exhume the bodies and see which one looked too fresh — blood in the vital organs. BostonGlobe.com, 26 Oct. 2021 Olga Kotenko waits as investigators exhume the remains of her son last week in Vilhivka. Lauren Egan, NBC News, 31 May 2022 Now Snoddy and the estate of Gilbreth, who died in 2005, are trying to market the tapes, hoping to exhume and showcase the music made at the Nugget 55 years ago. New York Times, 21 Apr. 2022 Another issue is whether the Six Nations will decide to exhume remains to identify them through DNA tests and determine cause of death — a prelude to holding anyone accountable in court. Ian Austen, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Dec. 2021 Another issue is whether the Six Nations will decide to exhume remains to identify them through D.N.A. tests and determine cause of death — a prelude to holding anyone accountable in court. Ian Austen, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2021 The question of whether to exhume remains has been divisive in many Indigenous communities. Ian Austen, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Medieval Latin exhumare, from Latin ex out of + humus earth — more at ex-, humble
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
exhume
transitive verb
ex·hume igz-ˈ(y)üm iks-ˈ(h)yüm
iks-ˈ(h)yüm exhumed; exhuming
: disinter
the body was exhumed for an autopsy
exhumation
noun
as in cremation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cremation
- disinterment
- unearthing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- burial
- interment
- entombment
- burying
- inhumation
- obsequies
- funeral
- sepulture
- embalmment
- entombing
- interring
- obsequy
- inurnment
- immurement