exhume

/ɛksˈ(h)juːm/

//ɛksˈ(h)juːm// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"exhume" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“exhume” is uncommon English (frequency #74,084 among 18,836 “E” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#74,084
frequency rank, English
18,836
“E” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To dig out of the ground; to take out of a place of burial; to disinter.

Key facts for exhume
PropertyValue
Headwordexhume
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɛksˈ(h)juːm/
Letters6
Frequency rank#74,084
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “exhume” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). exhume lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

exhume is uncommon English at frequency #74,084 among 18,836 “E” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /ɛksˈ(h)juːm/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

No misspelling variants are generated for exhume in our index, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Medieval Latin exhumō, from Latin ex- + humō (“to bury”). The correct English form is exhume, spelled E-X-H-U-M-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To dig out of the ground; to take out of a place of burial; to disinter.
  2. 2
    To uncover; to bring to light.

Etymology

From Medieval Latin exhumō, from Latin ex- + humō (“to bury”).

Synonyms

dig updisinterunburyunearth

Antonyms

buryinhumeinter

This word in other languages

exhumar(Español)exhumer(Français)exhumieren(Deutsch)exumar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "exhume"?
"exhume" is spelled E-X-H-U-M-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɛksˈ(h)juːm/.
What does "exhume" mean?
As a verb, "exhume" means: To dig out of the ground; to take out of a place of burial; to disinter.
How do you pronounce "exhume"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "exhume" is /ɛksˈ(h)juːm/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "exhume"?
From Medieval Latin exhumō, from Latin ex- + humō (“to bury”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “exhume”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is E-X-H-U-M-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɛksˈ(h)juːm/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list