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 city issued unsafe structure notices on residents' doors this week, ordering tenants in 10 units to vacate the premises effective March 9 for their safety. —Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2026

Pelfrey said Thursday the town needs to vacate the school in June. —Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026

The city placed unsafe-structure notices on residents’ doors this week, ordering tenants in 10 units to vacate the premises effective March 9 for their safety. —Nikiya Carrero, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026

The two talk shows are produced at NBCU’s Stamford Studios facility in Stamford, Connecticut, and the company is expected to vacate the building later in the year. —Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 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