Vacating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Vacating" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is leaving a place or relinquishing a position or responsibility. Example: "The tenants are vacating the apartment at the end of the month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Klitschko's brother Vitali, who jointly held the heavyweight championship with Wladimir before vacating the WBC title upon his 2013 retirement, was elected mayor of Ukraine's capital Kiev last year.

The Guardian - Sport

Vacating its number-two spot is something Oracle can ill afford.It seems unlikely.

The Economist

First announced on July 8th, the swap gave Nextel, America's sixth-largest mobile-phone carrier, new slices of spectrum in return for vacating other bands where it was causing interference with the radios of firemen, police and hospital workers.

The Economist

The Supreme Court sent the judgment back to the state justices for a second try, "vacating" (that is, suspending) their extension in the meantime.This allowed the Supreme Court to sidestep the issue of whether the state court was justified in its decision (a matter on which the Supreme Court seems split five to four).

The Economist

In a paper titled "Rich versus King", Noam Wasserman of Harvard Business School studied 457 private tech firms between 2000 and 2002 and found that entrepreneurs who relinquished the most control, either by vacating the boss's chair or loosening their influence over the board, tended to maximise the value of their own equity stakes.

The Economist

Even BankBoston, one of the founders of Viva O Centro, is vacating some of its buildings there, and moving staff to one of the newer business districts ("to follow our customers", it says).

The Economist

Slum dwellers, if they agree, then move in to the new housing, vacating land in Old Tbilisi.

The Economist

Shortly before the blasts in Mumbai, India's army chief issued a warning against India vacating the high ground, so possible did a settlement then seem.

The Economist

Israel launched its first big incursion with tanks and ground troops into the Gaza Strip since vacating it last summer, in the hope of forcing Palestinian militants to release an Israeli soldier they had abducted and to stop firing rockets into southern Israel.

The Economist

Five candidates, four of them Democrats, are eager to replace Tom Vilsack, a popular two-term governor and also the only Democrat who is vacating a mansion this year.

The Economist

Fifteen years later, in Mallory v. United States (1957), the court reaffirmed the McNabb prompt-arraignment rule by vacating the conviction of a man who had confessed to rape during a delay of more than 18 hours between his arrest and his arraignment.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "vacating" when you want to indicate a formal or official departure, such as from a position or property. This word often carries a slightly more elevated tone than simply "leaving."

Common error

Avoid using "vacating" in casual or informal conversations. Opt for simpler terms like "leaving" or "moving out" in those settings to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The word "vacating" functions primarily as a verb, specifically the present participle of "vacate". As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates the act of leaving a place or position, often with a sense of formality or officiality. This is seen in the examples provided, such as "vacating the WBC title" or "vacating its number-two spot."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Reference

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "vacating" is a verb form indicating the act of leaving a place, position, or responsibility, often with a degree of formality. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, followed by encyclopedias and formal business writing. While grammatically sound, it should be used judiciously in informal settings where simpler alternatives like "leaving" are more appropriate. Its versatility allows it to describe physical departures, relinquishing titles, or even the annulment of legal judgments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Leaving

A general term for departing from a place, less formal than "vacating".

Departing

Similar to leaving, but often implies a more formal or official departure.

Moving out of

Refers to leaving a residence or building.

Exiting

A more concise and sometimes technical term for leaving.

Evacuating

Specifically refers to leaving a place due to danger or an emergency.

Relinquishing

Indicates giving up a position, right, or claim.

Withdrawing from

Suggests a deliberate removal from a situation or commitment.

Abandoning

Implies leaving something behind, often with a negative connotation.

Ceding

Conveys the act of formally surrendering or yielding something, like territory or power.

Resigning from

Specifically refers to leaving a job or official position.

FAQs

How to use "vacating" in a sentence?

The word "vacating" is used as a verb, often in the context of leaving a place or position. For example: "The tenant is "vacating" the apartment", or "The director is "vacating" his post".

What can I say instead of "vacating"?

You can use alternatives like "leaving", "departing", or "relinquishing", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "vacating the premises" or "leaving the premises"?

Both phrases are correct, but "vacating the premises" is more formal and often used in legal or official contexts. "Leaving the premises" is more general.

What's the difference between "vacating" and "evacuating"?

"Vacating" generally means leaving a place, while "evacuating" specifically means leaving a place due to an emergency or danger.