California  |  Criminal Law

Yes.

When a charge is dismissed, that charge is no longer being prosecuted against you. If all of the charges are dismissed, it is the end of the case. In some cases a charge will be dismissed, but other charges remain, because the prosecutor no longer thinks that it is possible to charge for that specific offense.

When the court uses the term vacate, it usually means to undo a ruling, or the setting of a hearing. For example, if the trial judge sets a preliminary hearing, but then vacates it, that hearing is no longer on calendar for the originally scheduled date.

These terms are better defined with specific context.