vacate

verb

va·cate ˈvā-ˌkāt

vā-ˈkāt

vacated; vacating

Synonyms of vacate next

transitive verb

: to deprive of an incumbent or occupant

: to give up the incumbency or occupancy of

: to make legally void : annul

intransitive verb

: to vacate an office, post, or tenancy

Example Sentences

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 When a member of the Legislature vacates his or her office before their two-year term is up — whether by expulsion, resignation or death — Arizona law calls for a replacement by someone from the same party. —

Ray Stern, The Arizona Republic, 12 Apr. 2023 This was initially an Environmental Protection Agency rule issued during the Obama administration, rolled back by former President Donald Trump and eventually vacated by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022. —

J.d. Davidson | The Center Square, Washington Examiner, 12 Apr. 2023 State law also bars eviction in some cases for unpaid rent that was owed during the first several months of the pandemic, though tenants who qualify must have signed a COVID-19 Related Declaration of Financial Distress within 15 days of receiving a notice to pay or vacate. —

Paloma Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2023 Track wall removal begins and park areas vacated. —

Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2023 The board does not have the legal authority to force a member to vacate his or her office. —

Jeff Mcdonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2023 The silent Republicans’ decision to vacate the narrative has left a vacuum for the pro-insurrectionist Republicans to fill. —

Alex Thomas, The New Republic, 7 Apr. 2023 The relationship between Harry and Charles last got major media attention when Harry and Meghan's rep confirmed Charles ordered them to vacate their UK home, Frogmore Cottage last month. —

Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 7 Apr. 2023 Kitchen Dog had its own performance space for 20 years at the original McKinney Avenue Contemporary, but the closing of the building forced the company to vacate in 2015. —

Manuel Mendoza, Dallas News, 4 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vacate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of vacate was in 1643

See more words from the same year