Empty vs Vacant

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Empty

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 adjective

Vacant

Top 3,000 (common) C1 adjective

Most common: Empty

	Empty	Vacant
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈempti/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈempti/"]/	🇬🇧 //ˈveɪ.kənt// 🇺🇸 //ˈveɪ.kənt//
Meaning	Having nothing inside it.	Empty or not occupied.
Example	The box was empty, so I decided to fill it with toys.	The apartment has been vacant for several months.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR level	A2	C1
Part of speech	adjective	adjective
Collocations	appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of, appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of	vacant seat, vacant position, vacant lot, vacant room
Antonyms	full, occupied, loaded	occupied, filled, crowded
Common mistakes	Using 'emptied' instead of 'empty' for describing a current state., Saying 'an emptyness' instead of 'emptiness' when referring to the state of being empty.	Confused with 'vacation' as in time off., Used incorrectly to describe busy places., Said as 'vacant of' instead of simply 'vacant'.
Usage notes	Use 'empty' to describe physical spaces, containers, or feelings. It may not be appropriate for formal writing when referring to more abstract concepts like 'empty promises'.	Use 'vacant' to describe spaces, positions, or expressions that lack activity or occupation. It's suitable for both written and spoken contexts, but avoid using it in informal settings.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Empty his lands.

I just want to be on an empty stage

You're empty.

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Empty his lands.

I just want to be on an empty stage

Empty

Sherlock › S1 E1

Look at you lot. You're all so vacant.

The Wire › S1 E1

Decomp in a vacant apartment.

Sherlock › S1 E1

Look at you lot. You're all so vacant.

The Wire › S1 E1

Decomp in a vacant apartment.

Vacant

Frequently asked questions: Empty vs Vacant

What's the difference between Empty and Vacant?

Empty: Having nothing inside it. Vacant: Empty or not occupied.

Which is more common: Empty and Vacant?

Empty is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Empty and Vacant?

Vacant is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Empty and Vacant the same CEFR level?

Empty: A2, Vacant: C1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Empty and Vacant?

Empty: adjective, Vacant: adjective.

Can you show an example of each?

Empty: The box was empty, so I decided to fill it with toys. Vacant: The apartment has been vacant for several months.

Can I use Empty and Vacant interchangeably?

Not always. Empty and Vacant are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.