# vacate

/ˈveɪkeɪt/ (US) · /vˈeɪkeɪt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vacate
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

to leave a place so that it is empty and available for someone else to use. You often hear this when people move out of a house or hotel room.

For teachers: to leave a premises or position, making it empty or available for others. Often used in legal or formal contexts regarding property or official roles.

## Examples

- Guests must vacate their rooms by noon.
- The court ordered the tenants to vacate the property within thirty days after they failed to pay the rent.
- The outgoing CEO agreed to vacate his office immediately following the board's decision, ensuring a smooth transition for the interim leadership team during the restructuring phase.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The family vacated from the house." but "The family vacated the house." — Vacate is a transitive verb; it takes a direct object without the preposition 'from'.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, typically a physical space or a formal position.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.