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

The full court vacated that ruling earlier this month but went a step further on Tuesday by also staying the lower court’s ruling. — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 22 July 2026

Neighboring mega-gallery Hauser & Wirth vacated its East 69th Street townhouse last year before selling the property, while Brazilian gallery Nara Roesler left the block in 2020. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 20 July 2026

The Thunder could slide Wallace, Alex Caruso or Ajay Mitchell into the starting role Dort vacates. — Matt Schubert, New York Times, 19 July 2026

In October 2024, Toe2Toe vacated the property without notice to the owners, and owed more than $50,000 in unpaid rent, according to court documents. — Taylor O'Connor 17, Kansas City Star, 17 July 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