Meaning & use
vacant
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Not currently being used or lived in; empty and available.
Grammar: Used for rooms, seats, houses and lots: a vacant seat.
Patterns
- a vacant room
- stand vacant
There are two vacant seats at the back of the bus.
The house stood vacant for years after the family moved.
A vacant lot beside the school became a community garden.
adjectivecomparableformal
Of a job or position, not filled at present and open for applicants.
Grammar: Often used in notices and adverts: position vacant.
Patterns
- a vacant post
- become vacant
The post of head teacher has been vacant since June.
She applied for the vacant position of editor.
When the manager retired, the role became vacant.
adjectivecomparablefigurative
Showing no thought or interest, with a blank look.
Grammar: Usually describes a look, stare or expression.
Patterns
- a vacant stare
- a vacant expression
He gave me a vacant stare when I asked him a question.
Her face was vacant, as if she wasn't listening.
The child wore a vacant smile all morning.
Word forms
| comparative | more vacant |
|---|---|
| superlative | most vacant |
Common combinations
- vacant seat
- Is this vacant seat taken?
- vacant lot
- Weeds covered the vacant lot.
- vacant stare
- He fixed her with a vacant stare.
- vacant position
- The vacant position will be advertised next week.
- fall vacant
- The seat will fall vacant at the next election.
- vacant expression
- A vacant expression crossed his face.
Synonyms and how they differ
- empty
- Empty is the everyday word for containing nothing, while vacant suggests space that could be taken or filled.
- unoccupied
- Unoccupied is more formal and says nobody is in it right now.
- blank
- Blank describes a face or look with no expression, not a place.
- available
- Available says something can be used or taken, and does not mean the space is empty.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: vacant or vacancy? vacant or vacuous?
vacant vs vacancy
Vacancy is the noun for an open room or job, so you say there is a vacancy, not a vacant.
vacant vs vacuous
Vacuous describes someone or something empty of ideas, and is stronger and more critical than vacant.
Practice
The sign on the hotel door said that no rooms were ____.
Choose one answer.
Vacant describes a room that is empty and free. Occupied has the opposite meaning, and vacancy and vacate are the wrong word forms.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “vacant”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.