Cool MateEmpty vs Hollow vs Vacant
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Empty
Hollow
Vacant
| Empty | Hollow | Vacant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈempti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈempti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhɒləʊ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhɑːləʊ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈveɪ.kənt//🇺🇸 //ˈveɪ.kənt// |
| Meaning | Having nothing inside it. | Having a space inside; not solid. | Empty or not occupied. |
| Example | The box was empty, so I decided to fill it with toys. | The tree was hollow, providing a perfect shelter for small animals. | The apartment has been vacant for several months. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of, appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of | hollow laughter, hollow point, hollow eyes, hollow sound | vacant seat, vacant position, vacant lot, vacant room |
| Antonyms | full, occupied, loaded | solid, full | 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 'hallowed' (holy)., Using as a verb instead of an adjective., Mixing up 'hollow' with 'empty' without context. | 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'. | Used when describing objects that are empty inside, such as a hollow tree or hollow shell. Avoid using in overly formal contexts. | 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. |
Frequently asked questions: Empty vs Hollow vs Vacant
What's the difference between Empty, Hollow, and Vacant?
Empty: Having nothing inside it. Hollow: Having a space inside; not solid. Vacant: Empty or not occupied.
Which is more common: Empty, Hollow, and Vacant?
Empty is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Empty, Hollow, and Vacant?
Vacant is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Empty, Hollow, and Vacant the same CEFR level?
Empty: A2, Hollow: B2, Vacant: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Empty, Hollow, and Vacant?
Empty: adjective, Hollow: adjective, Vacant: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Empty: The box was empty, so I decided to fill it with toys. Hollow: The tree was hollow, providing a perfect shelter for small animals. Vacant: The apartment has been vacant for several months.
Can I use Empty, Hollow, and Vacant interchangeably?
Not always. Empty, Hollow, 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.