vacate

[vey-keyt, vuh-keyt, vey-]

verb (used with object)

vacated, vacating 

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)

vacated, vacating 

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

Other Word Forms

• vacatable adjective
• prevacate verb (used with object)
• revacate verb (used with object)

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

Boston-based Judge Burroughs wrote in Wednesday's ruling: "The Court vacates and sets aside the Freeze Orders and Termination Letters as violative of the First Amendment."

From BBC

Unlike Oregon, the state Supreme Court decided not to vacate old split-jury convictions and left it to the Legislature to deal with the issue.

From Salon

But Jimmy's deteriorating health has made this increasingly difficult and now he is under pressure to vacate the site to make way for a new development.

From BBC

If United's centre-backs did step up, the delay in doing so opened up passing options into the space they vacated.

From BBC

"If I returned to the North, it would've felt like I was just handing over my own bedroom to the Americans - vacating it for them. My conscience as a human being just couldn't allow that."

From BBC

Related Words

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