vacuum

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountablephysics

   A space with no air or other matter in it at all.

   Grammar: Usually singular: a vacuum, or in a vacuum; sound cannot pass through a vacuum.

   Patterns

   • in a vacuum
   • a vacuum seal

   Sound cannot travel through a vacuum.

   The scientists pumped the air out of the chamber to create a vacuum.

   Space is nearly a perfect vacuum.

2. 2nouncountableinformal

   An electric machine that cleans floors by sucking up dust, also called a vacuum cleaner.

   Grammar: Countable and informal: I bought a new vacuum.

   Patterns

   • run the vacuum
   • a robot vacuum

   I ran the vacuum before the guests came.

   Our old vacuum stopped working last week.

   She bought a cordless vacuum for the stairs.

3. 3nounusually singularfigurative

   An empty gap left when someone or something important is missing, especially in power or leadership.

   Grammar: Usually singular, with a describing word: a power vacuum.

   Patterns

   • a vacuum of something
   • fill a vacuum

   The leader's sudden resignation left a power vacuum.

   Her departure created a vacuum in the department.

   Rumors rush in to fill the vacuum when no one explains what is happening.

4. 4verbtransitive or intransitive

   To clean a floor, carpet or surface using a vacuum cleaner.

   Grammar: Takes an object, or none: vacuum the rug, or just vacuum.

   Patterns

   • vacuum something
   • vacuum up something

   I vacuum the living room every Saturday.

   He vacuumed up the crumbs under the table.

   Would you vacuum before I mop?

Word forms

Common combinations

vacuum cleaner

The vacuum cleaner is in the hall closet.

power vacuum

A power vacuum followed the collapse of the government.

in a vacuum

No decision is made in a vacuum; it affects others.

vacuum-sealed

The coffee comes in a vacuum-sealed bag.

fill a vacuum

New suppliers rushed in to fill the vacuum.

vacuum the carpet

Please vacuum the carpet before dinner.

Synonyms and how they differ

void

Void is a more literary word for emptiness, while vacuum is the standard scientific term for space without matter.

gap

Gap is a general term for a missing piece and does not suggest something that tends to be filled by others.

hoover

In British English, hoover is a brand name used for the machine and the verb, while vacuum is the general term.

emptiness

Emptiness is a plain state of having nothing, with no technical or political sense.

Opposites

Word family

vacuous adjective

empty of thought or meaning

vacuum cleaner noun

the full name of the machine

vacuuming noun

the act of cleaning with the machine

evacuate verb

to empty a place of people, from the same Latin root

Commonly confused: vacuum or vaccine?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “vacuum”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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