What does vacate mean?
Word: Vacate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Vacate means to leave a room, seat or job so that it is free for someone else.
How do you spell vacate?
Syllables: va - cate
Tricky part: There is only one c. Pupils used to doubled letters in words like occur often double it here too.
Watch out for: vaccate, vacatte, vacat
Memory tip: One person gets up from one seat, so the word needs just one c.
Vacate in a sentence
Example 1: Guests must vacate their hotel rooms by eleven in the morning.
Example 2: Please move along and vacate the front row so the parents can sit down.
Example 3: When our neighbours vacate the flat upstairs, my cousin will move in.
Fun Fact
In Latin, vacare meant to be empty or free, which is exactly what a place becomes once you have gone.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
v_c_te
a) a, e
b) a, a
c) o, a
d) e, a
Show answer
b) a, a. The same vowel fills both gaps.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word vacate as used in the sentence:
The team must vacate the cricket nets by six so that the juniors can practise.
a) abandon
b) occupy
c) clear
d) exit
Show answer
b) occupy. To occupy a place is to be in it and use it, the reverse of what the team must do.
Spell-o-Spell
Three of these words are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the one that is not.
1. relinquesh 2. adjourn 3. vacate 4. postpone
a) to stop a meeting for a short period
b) to go out of a place so that it stands empty
c) to put an event off until later
d) to give up something willingly
Show answer
d) to give up something willingly. Relinquish has an i before the sh, and nothing is amiss in the other three.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The hall manager politely asked all the comittee members to vacate the room before the evening function began.
a) manager
b) vacate
c) comittee
d) function
Show answer
c) comittee. Committee doubles three letters, and this spelling has lost one of its pairs.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A notice says: Students must vacate the hall by 4 pm. What must be true at 4 pm?
a) all students should be seated inside
b) no students should remain inside
c) the exam should begin inside
d) the teachers should take attendance inside
Show answer
b) no students should remain inside
2. A seat on the school council has just been vacated. What is the council likely to do next?
a) ask the head to remove the table
b) choose someone new to fill it
c) cancel all of its future meetings
d) add two more chairs to the room
Show answer
b) choose someone new to fill it
