Standard Lemma guide

vacate

verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /veɪˈkeɪt/
  • /ˈveɪ.keɪt/
  • uncommon: /vəˈkeɪt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪt
  • CMU ARPABET: V EY1 K EY0 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To move out of a dwelling or other property, either by choice or by eviction.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I have to vacate my house by midday, as the new owner is moving in.
  • You are hereby ordered to vacate the premises within 14 days.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To leave an office or position.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He vacated his coaching position because of the corruption scandal.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To have a court judgement set aside; to annul.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: law

Examples

  • The judge vacated the earlier decision when new evidence was presented.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To leave an area, usually as a result of orders from public authorities in the event of a riot or natural disaster.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • If you do not immediately vacate the area, we will make you leave with tear gas!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

cancel officially

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He revoked the ban on smoking
  • lift an embargo
  • vacate a death sentence

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: revoke, annul, lift, countermand, reverse, repeal, overturn, rescind

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: cancel, strike down

Narrower terms: renege, renege on, renegue on, go back on

6

verb

Meaning 6

leave behind empty; move out of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • You must vacate your office by tonight

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: empty, abandon

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: leave, go forth, go away

7

verb

Meaning 7

leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She vacated the position when she got pregnant
  • The chairman resigned when he was found to have misappropriated funds

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: resign, renounce, give up

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: leave office, quit, step down, resign

Narrower terms: abdicate, renounce

History

Etymology

Originally used in the legal sense "to annul", a denominal from Early Modern English vacat (“legal annulment”), a development from Middle English vacat (“absence or cancellation noted in a register”), from Latin vacat, third-person singular present active indicative of vacō (“to be idle; to be unoccupied”, literally “to be empty”). The primary modern sense "to move out" likely developed under the influence of older borrowing vacant (“unoccupied”), in combination with the Early Modern use of vacate to refer to the termination of official appointments to office, which would leave those position vacant.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: أخْلَا — to move out
  • Bulgarian: освобожда́вам (osvoboždávam) — to move out
  • Bulgarian: опразвам (oprazvam) — to move out
  • Catalan: desllogar — to move out
  • Finnish: muuttaa pois — to move out
  • Hindi: ख़ाली करना (xālī karnā) — to move out
  • Ido: vakuigar — to move out
  • Māori: whakatahi — to move out
  • Portuguese: vacar — to move out
  • Portuguese: vagar — to move out
  • Russian: освобожда́ть (osvoboždátʹ) — to move out
  • Russian: освободи́ть (osvobodítʹ) — to move out
  • Spanish: desalojar — to move out
  • Arabic: تَرَكَ (taraka) — to leave an office
  • Bulgarian: напускам (napuskam) — to leave an office
  • Finnish: erota — to leave an office
  • Finnish: jättää virka — to leave an office
  • Spanish: dejar vacante — to leave an office
  • Spanish: hacer vacar — to leave an office
  • Arabic: أبْطَلَ — to have court judgement set aside
  • Arabic: نَحّى — to have court judgement set aside
  • Finnish: mitätöidä — to have court judgement set aside
  • Bulgarian: опразвам (oprazvam) — to leave an area
  • Bulgarian: евакуирам се (evakuiram se) — to leave an area
  • Finnish: lähteä evakkoon — to leave an area
  • Māori: whakatahi — to leave an area
  • Spanish: desalojar — to leave an area