vacating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vacating" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to refer to the act of nullifying or canceling a decision, order, or judgment. Example: "The court is vacating the previous ruling due to new evidence presented."

✓ 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

When using "vacating" in legal contexts, ensure the subject is the entity with the authority to nullify or cancel, such as a court or judge. For example: "The judge is vacating the previous ruling."

Common error

Avoid using "vacating" in casual conversation when simpler alternatives like "leaving" or "exiting" would be more appropriate. The formal tone of "vacating" can sound out of place in everyday speech.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "vacating" is as a present participle of the verb 'vacate'. It is often used to describe an ongoing action of leaving or relinquishing something. Ludwig examples show it modifying nouns or functioning within verb phrases.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "vacating" functions as a present participle, signifying the act of leaving or nullifying something. Ludwig's AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in formal contexts such as news and legal documents. Its tone is typically neutral to professional, making it less suitable for casual conversation. The most authoritative sources using "vacating" include The New York Times and The Economist. When writing, remember to use "vacating" in formal settings to describe planned departures or cancellations and consider simpler alternatives like "leaving" in more casual contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

leaving

This term refers to the act of going away from a place or position, similar to "vacating" in the context of physical spaces.

relinquishing

This emphasizes the act of giving up or surrendering a claim, right, or possession, mirroring "vacating" in legal or formal contexts.

abandoning

This implies leaving something behind, often with a negative connotation of neglect or desertion.

nullifying

In legal contexts, this refers to canceling or invalidating something, similar to "vacating" a judgment.

evacuating

This specifically refers to leaving a place due to danger or an emergency.

repealing

This specifically refers to revoking or annulling a law or regulation.

withdrawing from

This suggests a more formal or strategic retreat from a situation or position.

resigning from

This specifically denotes leaving a job or official position.

stepping down from

Similar to resigning, this emphasizes a voluntary departure from a role or position.

quitting

A more informal term for leaving a job or activity.

FAQs

How is "vacating" typically used in legal contexts?

In legal settings, "vacating" often refers to the act of nullifying or canceling a decision, order, or judgment. For instance, "The court is "vacating" the previous ruling due to new evidence presented."

What are some alternatives to "vacating" in informal situations?

In more casual contexts, you can use alternatives like "leaving", "exiting", or "departing" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

"Vacating" generally implies a more orderly or planned departure, while "abandoning" suggests leaving something behind, often with a negative connotation of neglect or desertion. For example, one might vacate an apartment at the end of a lease, but abandon a vehicle on the side of the road.

When is it appropriate to use "vacating" instead of "leaving"?

"Vacating" is more suitable in formal or official contexts, especially when referring to positions, titles, or legal decisions. "Leaving" is a more general term suitable for both formal and informal situations.