SKIP TO CONTENT

vamoose

/vəˈmʌs/
/vəˈmʌs/
IPA guide

Other forms: vamoosed; vamooses; vamoosing

When you vamoose, you exit quickly. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the loud music and crazy dancing at your friend's party, you might decide to vamoose without saying goodbye to her.

If your grandfather's clearly getting ready to tell the family a long, boring story, you and your cousin might vamoose. Your little brother might prefer to stay at a birthday party long enough to whack the piñata but vamoose before the birthday boy starts opening gifts. In either case, someone leaves suddenly, and somewhat stealthily. Vamoose has been around since the mid-19th century, from the Spanish word vamos, or "let's go!"

Definitions of vamoose
  1. verb
    leave suddenly
    synonyms: decamp, skip
    see moresee less
    type of:
    go away, go forth, leave
    go away from a place
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘vamoose'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family