vamoose

American  

[va-moos] / væˈmus /

Older Use, vamose

verb (used without object)

vamooses, present (3rd person singular) vamoosed, past participle, past vamoosing present participle

1. to leave hurriedly or quickly; decamp.

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verb (used with object)

vamooses, present (3rd person singular) vamoosed, past participle, past vamoosing present participle

1. to leave hurriedly or quickly from; decamp from.

vamoose British  

/ vəˈmuːs /

verb

1. slang (intr) to leave a place hurriedly; decamp

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Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have vamoosed
  perfect
• has vamoosed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have been vamoosing
  perfect progressive
• is vamoosing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am vamoosing
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been vamoosing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are vamoosing
  progressive
• vamooses
  singular 3rd person
• vamoosing
  participle

Past

• had vamoosed
  perfect
• had been vamoosing
  perfect progressive
• was vamoosing
  progressive singular
• were vamoosing
  progressive plural
• vamoosed
  participle
• vamoosed
  simple

Future

• will vamoose
  simple
• will have vamoosed
  perfect
• will have been vamoosing
  perfect progressive
• will be vamoosing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of vamoose

First recorded in 1830–40; from Spanish vamos “let us go,” imperative 1st person plural of ir “to go”

Explanation

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!"