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 of vacate

• abolish
• cancel
• repeal
• overturn
• avoid
• rescind

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

Over the summer, Fleischmann voluntarily agreed to vacate a previous brick-and-mortar location in northwest suburban Huntley as part of a settlement agreement with her landlord. —Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026

Everlane was served a three-day notice on March 18 to either settle the balance or vacate its second-floor space at 2150 Folsom Street. —Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 3 Apr. 2026

Even so, the fact that Simon was only given a year to officially fill the position and could have to vacate it at a tricky time in the program’s existence has staffers uneasy. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026

Using outreach workers and homeless advocacy organizations, the city and county have given each unhoused person counseling, health care services and a credible offer of shelter or housing — along with a deadline to vacate. —Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for vacate

• placate

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