vacate

verb

va·​cate ˈvā-ˌkāt  vā-ˈkāt 

vacated; vacating

transitive verb

1

a

: to deprive of an incumbent or occupant

b

: to give up the incumbency or occupancy of

2

: to make legally void : annul

intransitive verb

: to vacate an office, post, or tenancy

Synonyms

• abate
• abolish
• abrogate
• annul
• avoid
• cancel
• disannul
• dissolve
• invalidate
• negate
• null
• nullify
• quash
• repeal
• rescind
• roll back
• strike down
• void

Examples of vacate in a Sentence

She refused to vacate her post even under increased pressure.

The election will fill the congressional seat vacated by the retiring senator.

The police told everyone to vacate the premises.

Students must vacate their rooms at the end of the semester.

The court vacated the conviction.

Recent Examples on the Web

The refusal to vacate has put the county in untested legal waters. —Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024

Restaurants have 10 days to vacate The Mainlier and the other four restaurants have 10 days from Friday to leave their locations, according to Inderhees' ruling. —Randy Tucker, The Enquirer, 17 Dec. 2024

Two new concepts are coming to 3rd Street Market hall, 275 W. Wisconsin Ave., as Shuckers Crab Shack and Oyster Bar vacates its space. —Jordyn Noennig, Journal Sentinel, 14 Dec. 2024

McClain-Delaney defeated Maryland Del. Neil Parrott (R) for the seat now vacated by Rep. David Trone (D), who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate. —The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin vacātus, past participle of vacāre "to annul," going back to Latin, "to be empty, have space" (sense probably by confusion with Medieval Latin vacuāre "to annul," going back to Latin, "to empty," derivative of vacuus "empty") — more at vacant, vacuum entry 1

First Known Use

1643, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Kids Definition

vacate

verb

va·​cate ˈvā-ˌkāt  vā-ˈkāt 

vacated; vacating

: to leave vacant

Legal Definition

vacate

verb

va·​cate

vacated; vacating

transitive verb

1

: to make void : annul, set aside

vacate a lower court order

2

a

: to make vacant

b

: to give up the occupancy of

intransitive verb

: to vacate an office, post, or tenancy