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6 dictionary results for: Vacant
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
va·cant       [vey-kuhnt] Pronunciation Key
–adjective
1.having no contents; empty; void: a vacant niche.
2.having no occupant; unoccupied: no vacant seats on this train.
3.not in use: a vacant room.
4.devoid of thought or reflection: a vacant mind.
5.characterized by, showing, or proceeding from lack of thought or intelligence: a vacant answer; a vacant expression on a face.
6.not occupied by an incumbent, official, or the like, as a benefice or office.
7.free from work, business, activity, etc.: vacant hours.
8.characterized by or proceeding from absence of occupation: a vacant life.
9.devoid or destitute (often fol. by of): He was vacant of human sympathy.
10.Law.
a.having no tenant and devoid of furniture, fixtures, etc. (distinguished from unoccupied): a vacant house.
b.idle or unutilized; open to any claimant, as land.
c.without an incumbent; having no heir or claimant; abandoned: a vacant estate.
[Origin: 1250–1300; ME < L vacant- (s. of vacāns, prp. of vacāre to be empty); see -ant]

—Related forms
va·cant·ly, adverb
va·cant·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1, 2. See empty. 5. blank, vacuous, inane.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
va·cant       (vā'kənt)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
  1. Containing nothing; empty.
  2. Without an incumbent or occupant; unfilled: a vacant position.
  3. Not occupied or put to use: a vacant lot.
  4. Law Not claimed by an heir: a vacant estate.
    1. Lacking intelligence or knowledge: a vacant mind.
    2. Lacking expression; blank: a vacant stare.
  6. Not filled with any activity: vacant hours. See Synonyms at empty.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin vacāns, vacant-, present participle of vacāre, to be empty; see euə- in Indo-European roots.]

va'cant·ly adv., va'cant·ness n.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
vacant 
c.1290, from O.Fr. vacant, from L. vacantem (nom. vacans), prp. of vacare "to be empty" (see vain). Vacancy "state of being vacant" first recorded 1607, from L.L. vacantia, from vacans. Meaning "available room at a hotel" is recorded from 1953.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
vacant

adjective
1. void of thought or knowledge; "a vacant mind" 
2. without an occupant or incumbent; "the throne is never vacant" 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: va·cant
Function: adjective
1 : not filled or occupied
2 a : not put to use <vacant land> b : having no heir or claimant vacant estate>

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Vacant

Va"cant\, a. [F., fr. L. vacans, -antis, p. pr. of vacare to be empty, to be free or unoccupied, to have leisure, also vocare; akin to vacuus empty, and probably to E. void. Cf. Evacuate, Void, a.]

1. Deprived of contents; not filled; empty; as, a vacant room.

Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form. --Shak.

Being of those virtues vacant. --Shak.

There is no fireside, howsoe'er defended, But has one vacant chair. --Longfellow.

2. Unengaged with business or care; unemployed; unoccupied; disengaged; free; as, vacant hours.

Religion is the interest of all; but philosophy of those . . . at leisure, and vacant from the affairs of the world. --Dr. H. More.

There was not a minute of the day which he left vacant. --Bp. Fell.

3. Not filled or occupied by an incumbent, possessor, or officer; as, a vacant throne; a vacant parish.

Special dignities which vacant lie For thy best use and wearing. --Shak.

4. Empty of thought; thoughtless; not occupied with study or reflection; as, a vacant mind.

The duke had a pleasant and vacant face. --Sir H. Wotton.

When on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood. --Wordsworth.

5. (Law) Abandoned; having no heir, possessor, claimant, or occupier; as, a vacant estate. --Bouvier.

Vacant succession (Law), one that is claimed by no person, or where all the heirs are unknown, or where all the known heirs to it have renounced it. --Burrill.

Syn: Empty; void; devoid; free; unemployed; disengaged; unincumbered; uncrowded; idle.

Usage: Vacant, Empty. A thing is empty when there is nothing in it; as, an empty room, or an empty noddle. Vacant adds the idea of having been previously filled, or intended to be filled or occupied; as, a vacant seat at table; a vacant office; vacant hours. When we speak of a vacant look or a vacant mind, we imply the absence of the intelligence naturally to be expected there.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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