What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
emptiness
Example
After her best friend moved away, she felt a sense of emptiness. [emptiness: noun]
Example
The book's pages were filled with emptiness, lacking any real substance. [emptiness: noun]
vacancy
Example
The company had a job vacancy for a marketing manager. [vacancy: noun]
Example
The hotel had a vacancy, so we decided to stay there for the night. [vacancy: noun]
Example
He looked at her with a vacant expression, not showing any emotion. [vacant: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Vacancy is more commonly used than emptiness in everyday language, especially in the context of job positions or physical spaces. Emptiness is less common and tends to be used more in literary or poetic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between emptiness and vacancy?
Both emptiness and vacancy can be used in formal and informal contexts, but vacancy is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of situations.
