vacate — ODE · Shobdo

vacate /vəˈkeɪt

, veɪˈkeɪt

▸ verb [with object]

1 leave (a place that one previously occupied):

rooms must be vacated by noon on the last day of your holiday.

▪ give up (a position or employment):

he vacated his office as Director.

2 Law cancel or annul (a judgement, contract, or charge):

the Justices vacated a ruling by the federal appeals court.

– ORIGIN mid 17th century (as a legal term, also in the sense ‘make ineffective’): from Latin vacat- ‘left empty’, from the verb vacare.