1
: not occupied by an incumbent, possessor, or officer
a vacant office
vacant thrones
2
: being without content or occupant
a vacant seat on a bus
a vacant room
3
: free from activity or work : disengaged
vacant hours
4
: devoid of thought, reflection, or expression
a vacant smile
5
: not lived in
vacant houses
6
a
: not put to use
vacant land
b
: having no heir or claimant : abandoned
a vacant estate
vacantly
adverb
vacantness
noun
Examples of vacant in a Sentence
These lockers are all vacant.
The seat was left vacant when the secretary resigned.
He had a vacant expression on his face.
Recent Examples on the Web
The council recently appointed Roberts to fill a vacant seat.
—
Greg Wehner, Fox News, 13 Mar. 2025
Tourists will still come by the thousands to admire the monuments, even if some of the big stone buildings turn vacant, like the ruins of the Roman Forum.
—Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 13 Mar. 2025
The program, part of the $11.5 million Neighborhood Investment Fund program announced last fall by the city, aims to build out vacant storefronts and improve existing ones along the major corridors of Albany Avenue, North Main Street, Park Street and Maple Avenue.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2025
Walsh was chosen by a school board majority in January to fill the Area 5 seat left vacant when former Trustee Michelle Barto was elected to the Newport Beach City Council.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Orange County Register, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vacant
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Greg Wehner, Fox News, 13 Mar. 2025
Tourists will still come by the thousands to admire the monuments, even if some of the big stone buildings turn vacant, like the ruins of the Roman Forum.
—Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 13 Mar. 2025
The program, part of the $11.5 million Neighborhood Investment Fund program announced last fall by the city, aims to build out vacant storefronts and improve existing ones along the major corridors of Albany Avenue, North Main Street, Park Street and Maple Avenue.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2025
Walsh was chosen by a school board majority in January to fill the Area 5 seat left vacant when former Trustee Michelle Barto was elected to the Newport Beach City Council.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Orange County Register, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vacant
Cite this Entry
“Vacant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vacant. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
vacant
adjective
va·cant
ˈvā-kənt 
1
: not filled, used, or lived in
a vacant house
2
: free from duties or care
a few vacant hours
3
: showing lack of thought
a vacant stare
vacantly
adverb
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