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vacant

vacant

15 4.1
Having a blank look that shows no thought or interest
  • adjective
  • /ˈveɪkənt/
  • Offensive
: vacío
  • I can't explain the vacant look on this guy.
  • vacant eyes
  • vacant and empty

It's clear from your vacant expression.

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Examples

  • Look at the face, it's vacant with a hint of sadness.

  • It's clear from your vacant expression.

  • But then, even in the dream, I remembered that the vacant eyes were my eyes.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Their faces were dirt-streaked, eyes vacant; their hair straggled into their eyes in ratty tangles.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • His eyes had a vacant look as he stared into space during the meeting.

  • She wore a vacant expression, showing no interest in the conversation.

  • The child's vacant gaze suggested he was lost in thought.

Synonyms

empty
vsvacant
181 3.7

Feeling like you have no feelings inside

is mainly a lack of thought or intelligence rather than emotional emptiness
blank
vsvacant
72 4.2

A look that shows no expression or understanding

is about lack of thought or interest rather than mere absence of expression
hollow
vsvacant
58 5.5

Empty inside and not sincere or meaningful

refers to missing mental thought or interest rather than insincere value
mindless
vsvacant
57 4.1

Not thinking or paying attention before acting

is an outward blankness showing lack of thought or interest
indifferent
vsvacant
50 4.4

Not interested or showing no strong feeling about something

is a blank lack of thought or intelligence rather than just not caring
apathetic
vsvacant
24 6.8

Not showing much interest or energy

means mental emptiness and lack of thought rather than low feeling
uninterested
vsvacant
18 3.5

Not wanting to know about or take part in something

is about showing no thought or intelligence rather than just lacking interest
vapid
vsvacant
17 7.9

Not interesting or lively and often boring

is about missing intelligence or thought rather than only lacking liveliness
lifeless
vsvacant
16 3.6

Without energy or interest and making people feel bored

describes lack of mental thought or interest rather than low energy
absent
vsvacant
12 4.0

Not paying attention because your mind is somewhere else

actually involves being mentally elsewhere, not empty of thought or interest
vacuous
vsvacant
  • Offensive
10 7.7

Showing little thought or intelligence

is a more neutral blank-minded appearance lacking thought or interest
impassive
vsvacant
9 7.1

Not showing any feeling on the face or in the voice

is about lack of thought or interest rather than absence of feeling
expressionless
vsvacant
9 4.4

Having a face or way of acting that shows no feeling

is about a blank mind or lack of interest rather than hidden feelings
empty-headed
vsvacant
  • Offensive
5 6.3

Silly, not very intelligent and not serious

is a neutral lack of thought or interest rather than playful silliness
unenthused
vsvacant
  • Informal
1 5.3

Not showing excitement or interest

is a blank-minded lack of thought or intelligence rather than mere boredom
inexpressive
vsvacant
1 5.5

Having little feeling in the face or voice

focuses on missing thought or interest rather than merely quiet appearance

Antonyms

127 2.8

Quick to notice and respond to what is happening

126 3.4

Giving full attention to an activity or idea

1 3.2

Paying careful attention to what is happening

Compounds

13 2.8

An empty piece of land in a town without buildings

How Focused

engaged
126 3.4
attentive
56 3.0
distracted
185 3.1
absentminded
2 5.9
vacant
  • Offensive
15 4.1
blank
72 4.2

Surface Forms

vacant positive

Morphology

vacant = vacate (semi-transparent) = vac + ant

The sense 'showing no sign of thought' is a metaphorical extension of 'empty' (vac-), so the morphological relation is clear but the specific meaning is figurative.

Etymology

Vacant also comes from the same Latin root vacare, 'to be empty'. That is why a vacant look or expression feels 'empty' — it shows no thought or interest.