vacate

/vəˈkeɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈeket] /ˈveɪkeɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [vˈeket] /ˈvā-ˌkāt How to pronounce vacate (audio) vā-ˈkāt How to pronounce vacate (audio)/ (ame, mw)

vacate — verb

  • vacate,present simple I / you / we / they
  • vacatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • vacates,he / she / it
  • vacateshe / she / it
  • vacated,past simple
  • vacatedpast simple
  • vacating,-ing form
  • vacating-ing form

1. to move out of a room, building, seat, or similar place, leaving it free for som

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to move out of a room, building, seat, or similar place, leaving it free for someone else to use or no longer occupied

例句

Hotel staff asked Nia to vacate the room by noon.

vacate + room by [time]

After the concert, ushers told everyone to vacate the front rows.

vacate + seat area

同義詞
  • leave

    broader everyday verb that does not stress leaving the place empty

  • move out

    focuses on stopping living in a place and taking your belongings

  • clear out

    more informal and often sounds sudden or forceful

  • evacuate

    used when people leave for safety because of danger

反義詞
  • occupy

    to use or stay in the place

  • take

    to begin using the room, seat, or property

文法句型

vacate + room/building/seat

vacate + property by + time

用法筆記

Usually takes a physical place as its object, especially rooms, buildings, seats, land, or property. Common in notices, rental agreements, and emergency instructions. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about giving up a role rather than leaving a space.

常見錯誤

❌We vacated from the house yesterday.
✅We vacated the house yesterday.
💡vacate normally takes the place directly as its object.
❌I vacated my shift at the cafe.
✅I gave up my shift at the cafe.
💡vacate is mainly used for property, seats, or more formal positions, not an ordinary work shift.

2. to give up an official job, seat, or position, so someone else can take it later

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to give up an official job, seat, or position, so someone else can take it later

例句

Judge Rania will vacate her seat on the appeals court in July.

vacate + seat on a court

The minister vacated the post after a corruption inquiry.

vacate + post

同義詞
  • resign

    the usual verb for formally leaving a job or office

  • step down

    less formal and often used for leaders leaving a position

  • relinquish

    more formal and stresses giving up control or title

反義詞
  • occupy

    to hold the office or position

  • assume

    to begin holding the office or post

文法句型

vacate + post/seat/office

vacate + position at the end of + period

用法筆記

Mainly used in official writing for formal posts, elected seats, and senior offices. In everyday speech, people more often say resign, step down, or leave the job. Distinguish from sense 1, which takes a physical place as its object.

常見錯誤

❌Lina vacated her shift at the cafe.
✅Lina gave up her shift at the cafe.
💡this sense is usually for formal posts, not an ordinary shift.
❌He vacated from the committee.
✅He vacated his seat on the committee.
💡the verb usually takes the role directly as its object.

3. to state officially, especially in court, that an earlier ruling, order, or judg

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

to state officially, especially in court, that an earlier ruling, order, or judgment is no longer valid in law

例句

The appeals court vacated the conviction and ordered a new trial.

court vacated + conviction

A federal judge vacated the order after new evidence surfaced.

vacate + order

同義詞
  • annul

    formal legal verb meaning to make something invalid

  • set aside

    legal phrase often used when a court removes a decision

  • overturn

    stresses reversing an earlier legal result

反義詞
  • uphold

    to leave the ruling or judgment in force

  • affirm

    to confirm that a lower court decision stands

文法句型

vacate + order/ruling/conviction

be vacated by a court

用法筆記

Almost always used in legal contexts and usually names a court, judge, panel, or another official body as the actor. Frequently appears with order, ruling, judgment, conviction, or sentence, and it often appears in the passive when lawyers are asking for earlier decisions to be removed.

常見錯誤

❌The school vacated the uniform rule.
✅The school cancelled the uniform rule.
💡use vacate in this sense mainly for legal or court decisions.
❌The judge vacated the meeting.
✅The judge adjourned the meeting.
💡this sense is about removing legal force from a decision, not ending an event.