01 a. Deprived of contents; not filled; empty; as, a vacant room.
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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.
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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.
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3.
Not filled or occupied by an incumbent, possessor, or officer; unoccupied; as, a vacant throne; a vacant house; a vacant apartment; a vacant parish.“Special dignities which vacant lie For thy best use and wearing.” — Shak.
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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.
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5.
Abandoned; having no heir, possessor, claimant, or occupier; as, a vacant estate.(Law)
Phrases & compounds
Vacant succession —
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.
Syn.
Empty; void; devoid; free; unemployed; disengaged; unincumbered; uncrowded; idle.
-- 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.