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
Synonyms
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
Frogmore Cottage has been vacant since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were asked to vacate.
—
Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024
Trees obstruct a direct view of the vacant homes, which sit at the end of a long driveway atop a hill, with single-story homes and apartment complexes near its base.
—Teri Figueroa, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
Today, so many villagers have gone overseas — legally and otherwise — that blocks of homes stand vacant and the social media feeds of those who remain are filled with old neighbors showing off houses and cars.
—Ryan J. Foley, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2024
Documents about the foreclosure proceeding note that the building had been vacant since 1983, though neighborhood watchers like Porter say it was closed up long before that.
—Bridget Read, Curbed, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for vacant 
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Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024
Trees obstruct a direct view of the vacant homes, which sit at the end of a long driveway atop a hill, with single-story homes and apartment complexes near its base.
—Teri Figueroa, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
Today, so many villagers have gone overseas — legally and otherwise — that blocks of homes stand vacant and the social media feeds of those who remain are filled with old neighbors showing off houses and cars.
—Ryan J. Foley, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2024
Documents about the foreclosure proceeding note that the building had been vacant since 1983, though neighborhood watchers like Porter say it was closed up long before that.
—Bridget Read, Curbed, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for vacant
Dictionary Entries Near vacant
Cite this Entry
“Vacant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vacant. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
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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