vacant
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
empty and available for someone to use, like a hotel room or a seat on a bus.
not filled, occupied, or used by anyone; typically applied to physical spaces or positions of employment.
Simple“The sign in the window said there were several vacant rooms for the night.”
In context“The company has struggled to find a suitable candidate for the vacant managerial position since the previous director retired in June.”
UsageOften used in formal contexts like real estate or job listings.
- 02 C1 Advanced
showing no thought, interest, or intelligence in your expression.
characterised by a lack of thought, reflection, or interest; used to describe facial expressions or gazes.
Simple“He just stood there with a vacant look on his face, not hearing a word I said.”
In context“She stared out of the window with a vacant expression, her mind clearly miles away from the lecture taking place in the hall.”
UsageUsually precedes the noun it modifies, such as 'stare' or 'look'.
Antonyms
“The townhouse complex, owned by the City of Toronto but vacant for years now, lies in ruins, waiting to be replaced by much taller buildings.”
“The process is similar to a vacant seat being filled as soon as someone gets up.”
From Old French vacant, from Latin vacāns.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.