vacuum
Americannoun
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a space entirely devoid of matter.
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an enclosed space from which matter, especially air, has been partially removed so that the matter or gas remaining in the space exerts less pressure than the atmosphere (opposed to plenum).
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the state or degree of exhaustion in such an enclosed space.
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a space not filled or occupied; emptiness; void.
The loss left a vacuum in his heart.
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a vacuum cleaner or sweeper.
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Physics. a state of lowest energy in a quantum field theory.
adjective
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of, pertaining to, employing, or producing a vacuum.
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(of a hollow container) partly exhausted of gas or air.
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pertaining to a device or process that makes use of a vacuum to accomplish a desired task.
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noting or pertaining to canning or packaging in which air is removed from the container to prevent deterioration of the contents.
verb (used with object)
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to use a vacuum cleaner on; clean with a vacuum cleaner.
to vacuum rugs.
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to treat with any vacuum device, as a vacuum drier.
verb (used without object)
noun
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a region containing no matter; free space Compare plenum
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a region in which gas is present at a low pressure
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the degree of exhaustion of gas within an enclosed space
a high vacuum
a perfect vacuum
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a sense or feeling of emptiness
his death left a vacuum in her life
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short for vacuum cleaner
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(modifier) of, containing, measuring, producing, or operated by a low gas pressure
a vacuum tube
a vacuum brake
verb
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A region of space in which there is no matter.
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A region of space having extremely low gas pressure relative to surrounding pressure. The air pump of a vacuum cleaner, for example, drastically reduces the air pressure inside the device, creating a vacuum; the pressure difference causes air to rush into it, carrying dust and debris along with it.
Discover More
In the natural world, air will flow into regions of vacuum, giving rise to the saying “Nature abhors a vacuum.”
The saying is extended informally: in politics, a lack of leadership may be referred to as a vacuum, which will presumably be filled by others rushing in.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of vacuum
First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin, neuter of vacuus “empty”
Explanation
A vacuum is essentially a great lack of something — a place where virtually all matter, even air, has been removed. It can describe something that's literally empty — or something that just seems that way, like a political vacuum. You probably have a vacuum at home. A humble household appliance named after a principle of physics, the vacuum is a device for sucking up dirt off the ground. It works by creating a vacuum — that is, it sucks all the air out of a particular place so that the surrounding atmospheric pressure will flood in, taking with it all the nacho chips, dog hair, toast crumbs, and whatever else you have lying around your house.
Vocabulary lists containing vacuum
Oh, My Stars! The Language of Outer Space
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Zilch, Zip, Nada: Words For Nothing
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Blinkit now offers the option to order an ambulance in some locations—seeking to fill a vacuum in a country where people can’t count on public ambulances to arrive in time.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026
Instead of simply cooling the atoms, they proposed manipulating the vacuum itself by creating "squeezed states," quantum states in which position and velocity behave in unusual ways.
From Science Daily • May 18, 2026
He also said O’Neill’s start in September left a monthslong leadership vacuum, with little clarity on the path forward.
From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026
There are 1,200 people working here, making Henry, the famous little red vacuum cleaner, and his pink friend Henrietta.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
She’d rather vacuum popcorn off her theater floors than deal with them.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
