Make empty (8)
I believe the answer is:
evacuate
'make empty' is the definition.
(evacuating is a kind of making empty)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for evacuate that I've seen before include "Completely empty" , "In wartime, remove civilians from cities to safety of countryside" , "Move people from their homes" , "rescue from bad situation" , "Get out of" .)