Vacant means empty or unoccupied. A vacant house has no one living in it. A vacant parking space is available because no car is parked there. When a hotel room is vacant, it's ready for the next guest to check in.

You'll often see the word on signs: Vacancy means rooms are available at a hotel, while No Vacancy means they're all full. An apartment building might advertise vacant units for rent.

The word also describes expressions on people's faces. A vacant stare or vacant look suggests someone's mind is elsewhere, like when you're so lost in thought that you don't notice your teacher calling your name. Your eyes might be open, but nobody seems to be home.

A position or job can be vacant too. When a principal retires, the principal position becomes vacant until the school hires someone new. The vacancy needs to be filled.

The opposite of vacant is occupied. A theater seat is either vacant (empty and available) or occupied (someone's sitting in it). Similarly, a vacant lot is an empty piece of land, while an occupied lot has a building on it.