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 at-large seat being vacated by Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan is the only council office decided by voters citywide, instead of ones in a specific geographical district. —Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024

That answer may determine whether the justices will want to review the decision, the court said in an unsigned opinion that vacated the appeals court's ruling and ordered a new one. —Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024

Trump's remarks come after McConnell will be vacating his seat in January 2027 after nearly four decades but will be leaving his role as Republican Senate leader this month. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

The order also asks to give a 24-hour notice for Schubert to vacate. —Stepheny Price, Fox News, 30 Oct. 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