vay-KAY-tid
/veɪˈkeɪtɪd/
vacated is pronounced vay-KAY-tid (/veɪˈkeɪtɪd/). Vacated means having left a place or been emptied of occupants, as in a room, building, or area. It describes the action or state of vacating. The term often conveys a completed action in the past or an ongoing state in certain contexts, such as a space that has been cleared or abandoned.
Vacated means having left a place or been emptied of occupants, as in a room, building, or area. It describes the action or state of vacating. The term often conveys a completed action in the past or an ongoing state in certain contexts, such as a space that has been cleared or abandoned.
- You’ll tend to drop the middle vowel and say ‘vac-ted.’ Keep a distinct middle vowel (ə or ɪ) to preserve three syllables. - Avoid flattening the final -ed into a simple /d/—aim for /teɪd/ or /tɪd/ with a light release. - Don’t shift primary stress to the second syllable; maintain first-syllable emphasis for natural rhythm. - Ensure the /t/ is perceptible; a glottal stop in some dialects can obscure the ending. - Don’t merge /veɪ/ into a single diphthong; keep /eɪ/ as its own nucleus in the first syllable.
"The tenant vacated the apartment last week and handed back the keys."
"After the workers finished, the site was vacated for safety reasons."
"The office was vacated following the merger, and operations moved elsewhere."
Pronounce as /ˈveɪ.kəˌteɪd/ or /ˈveɪ.kɪˌteɪd/ depending on the accent. Stress is on the first syllable. Break it into VA-CA-ted with a light second vowel and a clear -t -ed ending. In US, you’ll hear VAH-kuh-tayd; in UK, VAH-kih-tid, with a shorter second vowel and a stronger t sound before the ed. IPA references: US /ˈveɪ.kɪˌteɪd/; UK /ˈveɪ.kəˌteɪd/; AU /ˈveɪ.kəˌteɪd/.
Common mistakes: 1) Dropping the middle syllable vowel (saying 'vac-ted' or 'vac-ited')—keep the middle schwa-like vowel for clarity. 2) Misplacing stress (shifting to second syllable stress) — maintain primary stress on the first syllable. 3) Slurring the -t- into -d- so it sounds like ‘vacad’— articulate a small /t/ or a tap before the final /d/ to preserve the -ted ending.
In US English, expect /ˈveɪ.kɪˌteɪd/ with a slightly reduced second syllable and a clear /t/ before /eɪd/. UK English tends to have /ˈveɪ.kəˌteɪd/, with a more centralized or reduced second vowel and perhaps less rhoticity affecting surrounding vowels. Australian English generally sits between US and UK, often with /ˈveɪ.kəˌteɪd/ and a more open first vowel in some speakers. The key differences are vowel quality and the precise vowel in the second syllable, plus rhotic influence on surrounding vowels.
The difficulty comes from a tri-syllabic structure with a stressed first syllable and a final -ed that often yields a /ɪd/ or /eɪd/ sound, depending on the speaker. The middle vowel can drift toward schwa /ə/ or a short /ɪ/, and the /t/ before a future /d/ can be subtle. Practicing the precise /ˈveɪ.kɪˌteɪd/ or /ˈveɪ.kəˌteɪd/ sequence with a crisp /t/ helps clarity and pacing.
The word uniquely emphasizes a three-syllable cadence with a strong initial stress and an aspirated-t before the final -ed; attention to the /t/ sound before the /ɪd/ or /eɪd/ is crucial to avoid a clipped ending. The final syllable should retain a clear -ed as /teɪd/ rather than collapsing into a single syllable.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "vacated"!
- US: /ˈveɪ.kɪˌteɪd/. Emphasize a crisp, aspirated /t/ before the final /eɪd/. - UK: /ˈveɪ.kəˌteɪd/. Reduce the middle vowel slightly toward /ə/; keep a clear second syllable. - AU: /ˈveɪ.kəˌteɪd/. Similar to UK; X-final /d/ lightly released; avoid over-articulation.
vacate comes from the Latin vacatus, past participle of vacare “to be empty, to be free from,” from vac-, a root meaning “empty.” The Latin form passed into Old French as vacer or vacer, with similar meanings of emptying or being unoccupied. In English, vacate appeared in the late Middle English period, retaining the core sense of making a place empty by removal of occupants or objects. Over time, vacate broadened to include legal and administrative senses, such as “to void or annul” in contracts, leases, or official documents, reflecting the idea of emptying a stake, claim, or occupancy. In modern usage, vacated commonly describes spaces that have been emptied (rooms, buildings) and can also describe actions in property law (to vacate a lease) or procedural contexts (to vacate a claim). The word’s usage has remained relatively stable, with emphasis on the state of being unoccupied or the act of removing occupants. First known uses with the core meaning of emptying trace back to medieval Latin and its transmission through Romance languages to English, aligning with related terms like vacant and vacancy, all sharing the underlying theme of emptiness or absence of occupancy.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "vacated" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "vacated" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "vacated" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "vacated"
-ted sounds
-ded sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
