vacate

[ vey-keytor, especially British, vuh-keyt, vey- ]

verb (used with object)

, va·cat·ed, va·cat·ing.

1. to give up possession or occupancy of:

   to vacate an apartment.

2. to give up or relinquish (an office, position, etc.):

   She recently vacated her position as president of the organization.

3. to render inoperative; deprive of validity; void; annul:

   to vacate a legal judgment.

4. to cause to be empty or unoccupied; make vacant:

   to vacate one's mind of worries.

verb (used without object)

, va·cat·ed, va·cat·ing.

1. to withdraw from occupancy; surrender possession:

   We will have to vacate when our lease expires.

2. to give up or leave a position, office, etc.
3. to leave; go away.

vacate

/ vəˈkeɪt /

verb

1. to cause (something) to be empty, esp by departing from or abandoning it

   to vacate a room

2. also intr to give up the tenure, possession, or occupancy of (a place, post, etc); leave or quit
3. law
   1. to cancel or rescind
   2. to make void or of no effect; annul

Derived Forms

• vaˈcatable, adjective

Other Words From

• va·cat·a·ble adjective
• pre·va·cate verb (used with object) prevacated prevacating
• re·va·cate verb (used with object) revacated revacating

Word History and Origins

Origin of vacate¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin vacātus, past participle of vacāre “to be empty”; vacuum

Example Sentences

It also directed authorities to give sufficient time to the affected person to challenge the order or vacate the property.

From BBC

A veteran of the war in Afghanistan and a long-time Trump supporter, Waltz was re-elected to Congress last week - though he will have to vacate his office to serve in the White House.

From BBC

In a Friday filing to Judge Tanya Chutkan, Smith’s office asked that the court vacate future scheduled proceedings “to afford the government time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy.”

From Salon

On Friday, Smith requested that Chutkan vacate the remaining pretrial deadlines “to afford the Government time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy.”

From Slate

The case could wrap up before Hochman takes office, because a judge will hear a motion Nov. 25 to vacate the brothers’ convictions because they were not allowed to introduce evidence that they were sexually abused by their father at their second trial.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abandon
• annul
• depart
• dissolve
• empty
• evacuate
• give up
• move out
• quash
• quit
• relinquish
• renounce
• rescind
• reverse
• revoke
• void
• withdraw