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 27-year-old Ennis (33-0-0-1 with 29 knockouts) won the vacant IBF interim welterweight crown in January 2023 with a unanimous decision victory over Karen Chukhadzhian.
—
Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
The now vacant patch of land is roughly a mile west of Interstate 35W, within walking distance of a post office, a gas station, a high school and miles of subdivisions.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2025
Throughout that game, Dembele dropped from his central position to attack the vacant space in Liverpool’s midfield and overload that area of the pitch.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
But Han himself was impeached just two weeks later over his refusal to fill a vacant seat in one of the country’s top courts and was only reinstated to the role in late March.
—Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vacant
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Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
The now vacant patch of land is roughly a mile west of Interstate 35W, within walking distance of a post office, a gas station, a high school and miles of subdivisions.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2025
Throughout that game, Dembele dropped from his central position to attack the vacant space in Liverpool’s midfield and overload that area of the pitch.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
But Han himself was impeached just two weeks later over his refusal to fill a vacant seat in one of the country’s top courts and was only reinstated to the role in late March.
—Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 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 13 Apr. 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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