unoccupied

[uhn-ok-yuh-pahyd]

adjective

1. without occupants; empty; vacant.

2. not held or controlled by invading forces.

   unoccupied nations.

3. not busy or active; idle; not gainfully employed.

   an unoccupied person.

4. without inhabitants; deserted.

unoccupied

/ ʌnˈɒkjʊˌpaɪd /

adjective

1. (of a building) without occupants

2. unemployed or idle

3. (of an area or country) not overrun by foreign troops

Word History and Origins

Origin of unoccupied¹

1350–1400; Middle English; un- ¹, occupy ( def. ), -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

The IED ignited, and after a couple minutes of burning, it detonated, causing some damage to the unoccupied building.

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With increasing urgency, the couple scouted area ponds for suitable release sites, the trick being to find one currently unoccupied by other beavers, with abundant sapling growth as a food supply.

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The vehicle was soon found unoccupied, crashed on southbound Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway.

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An unoccupied CHP patrol vehicle was hit by metal shrapnel and was damaged.

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But HUD will not initially increase funding to the local public housing authorities that distribute assistance, so those authorities may have to offer fewer vouchers or leave units unoccupied, HUD expects.

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Related Words

• deserted 
• unfilled 
• uninhabited 
• unused 
• vacant