verb
vacate
vay-KAYT
Vacate (verb) means to leave a property, room, or position, making it available for someone else. Example: “Guests must vacate their rooms by 11am.”
verb
1
To leave a property, room, or position, making it available for someone else.
"Guests must vacate their rooms by 11am."
"She vacated the post after ten years as director."
2
Law: to make a court ruling or judgment void.
"The appeals court vacated the earlier conviction."
How to use vacate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo leave a place or position so it becomes empty/available, or (in law) to cancel a ruling.
Common pairings
vacate the premises
vacate a judgment
vacate the position
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- vacates
- Past tense
- vacated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Guests must _____ their rooms by 11am.
Etymology
From Latin vacare ("to be empty, to be unoccupied"); the legal sense of "annul" came first in English, with "move out of" developing later.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for vacate
See all rhymes for vacate →Frequently asked questions
What does “vacate” mean?
The word “vacate” means to leave a property, room, or position, making it available for someone else. In plain terms, to leave a place or position so it becomes empty/available, or (in law) to cancel a ruling.
How do you pronounce “vacate”?
“Vacate” is pronounced vay-KAYT (/veɪˈkeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “vacate” in a sentence?
Here is “vacate” used in a sentence: “Guests must vacate their rooms by 11am.”
What part of speech is “vacate”?
“Vacate” is a verb.
Where does the word “vacate” come from?
The word “vacate” comes from Latin. From Latin vacare ("to be empty, to be unoccupied"); the legal sense of "annul" came first in English, with "move out of" developing later.
How many meanings does “vacate” have?
“Vacate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to leave a property, room, or position, making it available for someone else.
