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
The Code Blue took effect Sunday night — before a body was pulled from a burning and vacant home on North Avenue.
—
Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore Sun, 25 Jan. 2025
Demolition so far is confined to smaller buildings at the northeast corner of the property, but will swing to the west to take in the residential buildings of the vacant Howe Developmental Center, part of the 280-acre property northwest of 183rd Street and Harlem Avenue.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2025
At the time Kesse went missing, there were renovations going on and workers had moved into vacant condos around the property.
—Alex Gurley, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025
The bakery took over a 2,030-square-foot vacant space at the plaza, according to real estate developer Merlone Grier.
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for vacant 
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Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore Sun, 25 Jan. 2025
Demolition so far is confined to smaller buildings at the northeast corner of the property, but will swing to the west to take in the residential buildings of the vacant Howe Developmental Center, part of the 280-acre property northwest of 183rd Street and Harlem Avenue.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2025
At the time Kesse went missing, there were renovations going on and workers had moved into vacant condos around the property.
—Alex Gurley, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025
The bakery took over a 2,030-square-foot vacant space at the plaza, according to real estate developer Merlone Grier.
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 23 Jan. 2025
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 30 Jan. 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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