vacancy

/ˈveɪkənsi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈveɪkənsi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈvā-kən(t)-sē/ (ame, mw)

vacancy — noun

  • vacancysingular
  • vacanciesplural

1. a room, seat, parking spot, or other area that is not currently in use and can b

1.名詞B1
釋義

a room, seat, parking spot, or other area that is not currently in use and can be used by someone

例句

The hotel had a 'No Vacancy' sign hanging by the front door when we arrived.

fixed phrase: 'No Vacancy' sign

Takeshi parked in the only vacancy left on the third floor of the garage.

collocation: parking vacancy

同義詞
  • space

    more general term for any empty area, not necessarily available for use

  • opening

    emphasises a gap that can be filled, common for seats and positions

  • spot

    informal, often used for parking or seating

反義詞
  • occupancy

    the state of being occupied or filled

  • fullness

    the state of having no space left

文法句型

[number] + vacancy/vacancies

no vacancy

a vacancy in/at [place]

用法筆記

The fixed phrase 'No Vacancy' is commonly seen on signs outside hotels, motels, and parking lots when all spaces are occupied. In British English, 'vacancy' often refers specifically to available hotel rooms.

常見錯誤

❌The hotel had no vacation.
✅The hotel had no vacancy.
💡'vacation' means a holiday or time off; 'vacancy' means an available room or space.
❌There is a vacancy for two people at the table.
✅There are vacancies for two people at the table.
💡use the plural when referring to multiple available spots.

2. a paid position in a company or organization that nobody is currently doing, so

2.名詞B1
釋義

a paid position in a company or organization that nobody is currently doing, so the employer is looking for someone to hire

例句

The company posted a vacancy for a junior software engineer on its website.

collocation: post a vacancy

Christopher applied for three teaching vacancies at local high schools near his home.

同義詞
  • opening

    less formal; more common in spoken English and everyday job ads

  • position

    more formal, emphasising the role within an organisational structure

  • post

    formal, especially in government, academic, or military contexts

反義詞

文法句型

a vacancy for [job title]

fill a vacancy

post/advertise a vacancy

用法筆記

Commonly paired with the verbs 'fill' (to hire someone for the role) and 'advertise' or 'post' (to list the job publicly). The preposition 'for' introduces the specific role: 'a vacancy for a cleaner.'

常見錯誤

❌I applied for a vacancy in the hospital.
✅I applied for a vacancy at the hospital.
💡use 'at' for the organisation or location, not 'in.'
❌The vacancy is empty.
✅The vacancy is open' or 'The position is unfilled.
💡'vacancy' already means something empty, so saying 'empty vacancy' is redundant.

3. the condition of being empty and not occupied — for example, when a hotel room h

3.名詞B2
釋義

the condition of being empty and not occupied — for example, when a hotel room has no guests, an apartment has no tenants, or a job has no employee working in it

例句

The apartment remained in a state of vacancy for nearly six months after the tenants left.

collocation: state of vacancy

During the vacancy of the office, the furniture was covered with white sheets.

同義詞
  • emptiness

    emphasises the physical quality of being empty; less formal

  • vacuity

    formal and often figurative; less common in everyday speech

反義詞
  • occupancy

    the state of being lived in or used

  • tenancy

    specifically the state of renting a property

文法句型

in/into/out of vacancy

a state of vacancy

a period of vacancy

用法筆記

This uncountable sense is more formal and abstract than senses 1 and 2. It is common in legal and property contexts to describe a period during which no one occupies a space or role. Distinguish from sense 1 (a concrete available room/seat) and sense 2 (a concrete available job).

常見錯誤

❌There is a vacancy for three months.' (meaning the period)
✅There has been a vacancy period of three months.
💡for the temporal sense, add 'period' to make the meaning clear.