Cool MateEmpty vs There's nothing in there vs Vacant
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Empty
There's nothing in there
Vacant
| Empty | There's nothing in there | Vacant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈempti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈempti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðeərz ˈnʌθɪŋ ɪn ðeə//🇺🇸 //ðɛrz ˈnʌθɪŋ ɪn ðɛr// | 🇬🇧 //ˈveɪ.kənt//🇺🇸 //ˈveɪ.kənt// |
| Meaning | Having nothing inside it. | There isn't anything inside that place. | Empty or not occupied. |
| Example | The box was empty, so I decided to fill it with toys. | When I opened the drawer, I realized there's nothing in there. | 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 | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of, appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of | look in there, check in there, say there's nothing | 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. | Confusing with 'there's something in there' - learners might say the opposite., Saying 'There is no thing in there' instead, which sounds awkward., Using it in formal contexts where a more precise description is needed. | 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 to indicate that a space or container is empty. Typically informal, suitable for casual conversations. | 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. |
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Frequently asked questions: Empty vs There's nothing in there vs Vacant
What's the difference between Empty, There's nothing in there, and Vacant?
Empty: Having nothing inside it. There's nothing in there: There isn't anything inside that place. Vacant: Empty or not occupied.
Which is more common: Empty, There's nothing in there, and Vacant?
Empty is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Empty, There's nothing in there, and Vacant?
Vacant is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Empty: The box was empty, so I decided to fill it with toys. There's nothing in there: When I opened the drawer, I realized there's nothing in there. Vacant: The apartment has been vacant for several months.
Can I use Empty, There's nothing in there, and Vacant interchangeably?
Not always. Empty, There's nothing in there, 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.