exodus

Meanings

1. 1nounsingular

   The departure of many people from a place at around the same time.

   Grammar: Usually singular, often with a: an exodus from the city.

   Patterns

   • an exodus from somewhere
   • an exodus of people

   Each summer there is an exodus from the city to the coast.

   The war caused a mass exodus of refugees.

   Poor pay led to an exodus of nurses.

2. 2proper nounproperreligion

   The second book of the Bible, or the escape of the Israelites from Egypt it describes.

   Grammar: Capitalized when referring to the biblical event.

   Patterns

   • the Exodus

   The story of the Exodus is retold at Passover.

   She read the book of Exodus in class.

   Artists have painted scenes from Exodus for centuries.

Word forms

Common combinations

mass exodus

A mass exodus followed the factory closure.

exodus of talent

The country suffered an exodus of talent.

rural exodus

The rural exodus emptied many villages.

exodus from

There was an exodus from the stadium after the third goal.

sudden exodus

A sudden exodus began at midnight.

Synonyms and how they differ

departure

Departure is general and can refer to one person, while exodus refers to many leaving together.

evacuation

Evacuation is organized removal for safety, while exodus may be voluntary.

migration

Migration suggests movement over a longer period or distance.

flight

Flight suggests fleeing from danger.

Opposites

Word family

exodus noun

the mass departure

exodist noun

a rare word for a person who leaves in an exodus

exit noun

a way out, from a related idea

Commonly confused: exodus or exudes?

Practice

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