Skip to main content
vacantly

vacantly

3 4.8
In a blank way that shows no interest or thought
  • adverb
  • /ˈveɪkəntli/
translation icon : vacíamente
  • His head bobbed vacantly in all directions until his glance settled on the ground.
  • stare vacantly
  • smiled vacantly
  • gaze vacantly

Examples

  • I'm just staring vacantly into space.

  • Some eat or talk, but most stare vacantly into space.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Only the man seemed unaffected; he continued to look almost vacantly into the distance.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Jack sat on a park bench, staring vacantly in front of him.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • A magazine is on her lap, but she is staring vacantly into the loft.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The boy stared vacantly at me, as if such banality no longer held meaning.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • "I'll find something," Forrest said again, staring vacantly at his sandwich.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • I remember Finney standing there that night, gazing vacantly at the storm.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Nuno is sitting by himself, staring vacantly at the fire, licking his fingers.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Jack sat on a park bench, staring vacantly in front of him.

Synonyms

blankly
vsvacantly
16 3.1

In a way that shows no expression or feeling

is marked by lack of interest or attention rather than only no understanding
impassively
vsvacantly
4 6.8

In a way that shows no feeling or reaction

is absent in thought or interest while also showing little emotion
indifferently
vsvacantly
4 4.0

Showing no interest or care

is empty in thought and feeling rather than just neutral attitude
numbly
vsvacantly
3 5.8

In a way that shows no feeling in the body or mind

is empty in attention and interest, not only reduced feeling or sensation
listlessly
vsvacantly
3 5.7

In a way that shows little energy or interest

is empty in thought and feeling rather than merely showing low energy
hollowly
vsvacantly
1 6.6

In a way that sounds empty and not sincere

is empty but mainly lacks interest and conscious thought
lifelessly
vsvacantly
1 5.4

In a way that shows no energy or interest

is empty in thought and feeling rather than just lacking energy
emptily
vsvacantly
1 5.9

In a way that shows no feeling or life

is also without thought or attention, not only missing inner feeling
unemotionally
vsvacantly
1 5.0

In a calm way that does not show feelings

is empty in thought and interest and shows little emotional response
expressionlessly
vsvacantly
1 6.0

In a way that shows no feeling on the face

is empty in thought and interest as well as lacking visible emotion
apathetically
vsvacantly
1 7.3

In a way that shows no interest or energy

is empty in thought as well as indifferent, not only lacking concern
vacuously
vsvacantly
  • Formal
1 8.4

Acts without thought or understanding

is empty also in feeling and interest, not only lacking thought or meaning
lethargically
vsvacantly
1 6.7

Slowly and without energy

is empty in thought and emotion rather than being slow from tiredness
emotionlessly
vsvacantly
6.9

Without showing any feeling

is empty in thought and interest as well as lacking emotion
uninterestedly
vsvacantly
6.0

In a way that shows no interest or concern

is empty of thought and emotion rather than merely lacking interest
vapidly
vsvacantly
8.0

In a dull way that shows no interest

is empty in thought and emotion rather than merely dull or unoriginal
spiritlessly
vsvacantly
6.7

In a way that shows no energy or interest

is empty in thought and emotion rather than only lacking spirit

Antonyms

43 3.7

In a careful way that shows you pay attention before deciding

How Expressionless

blankly
16 3.1
vacantly
3 4.8
distractedly
4 5.1

Surface Forms

vacantly positive

Morphology

vacantly = vacant (transparent) = vacant + ly

The adverb is a straightforward derivation from the adjective 'vacant' with the productive English adverbial suffix '-ly', so learners who know 'vacant' will readily infer 'vacantly'.

Etymology

Vacantly comes from vacant, which comes from the Latin word vacare meaning 'to be empty'. Think of a vacuum or an empty room: when someone looks vacantly they have an 'empty' face or mind, so they seem to show no interest or thought.