voids
voids — noun
- voidssingular
- voidsesplural
1. a large empty area with nothing inside it, such as a hole in the ground, a gap i
a large empty area with nothing inside it, such as a hole in the ground, a gap inside a structure, or the dark emptiness of space.
The construction crew filled the large void beneath the old foundation with concrete.
fill a void beneath [something]
A team of archaeologists found a hidden void inside the pyramid using special cameras.
hidden void inside [something]
The earthquake created a deep void in the ground near the village school.
Nora shone a flashlight into the dark void under the floorboards.
- solid
a filled, continuous mass without empty space
文法句型
void + in/under/between [something]
常見錯誤
2. a sad, empty feeling that people experience when someone or something important
a sad, empty feeling that people experience when someone or something important is missing from their life, leaving them with a sense of loss.
After her grandmother passed away, Hannah felt a deep void in her life.
feel a void in one's life
Liam tried to fill the emotional void by keeping himself extremely busy.
fill a void (emotional)
The death of the family dog left a painful void in their home.
Many retirees feel a void in their daily lives after they stop working.
- emptiness
more general; can be physical or emotional, while 'void' is stronger and more poetic
- hollowness
emphasises the feeling of being empty inside, often after disappointment or grief
- fulfillment
a sense of satisfaction and completeness
文法句型
feel/leave/fill a void
用法筆記
Often paired with verbs like 'feel', 'fill', or 'leave' to describe the emotional impact of loss. Unlike sense 1 (HOLE OR SPACE), this sense is always metaphorical — the emptiness is psychological, not physical.
常見錯誤
3. the state of being completely without something that is expected, needed, or nor
the state of being completely without something that is expected, needed, or normally present.
The void of any real safety measures led to several serious accidents at the factory.
void of [something] = absence
In the void of clear leadership, the department began to make its own decisions.
The auditor's report pointed to a complete void of evidence in the investigation.
A void of trust between the two teams made cooperation almost impossible.
- presence
the state of being present or available
文法句型
void of [something]
用法筆記
This sense usually appears in formal or analytical writing. Unlike sense 2 (EMPTINESS), it is not about feelings — it is a neutral description of something that is absent. Often constructed with 'void of + noun'.
常見錯誤
voids — adjective
- voidspositive
- voidsercomparative
- voidsestsuperlative
1. having no legal effect, so that a contract, agreement, marriage, or official dec
having no legal effect, so that a contract, agreement, marriage, or official decision is treated as if it never existed.
The court declared the contract void because one party had lied about the costs.
declare [something] void
Without a valid signature from both owners, the rental agreement is void.
The new regulations rendered all previous parking permits null and void.
The judge ruled that the marriage was void because the groom was already married.
- invalid
wider use; can apply to arguments, passwords, and tickets, not just legal documents
- null
very similar in legal contexts; often paired in the phrase 'null and void'
- unenforceable
technical; means a court will not enforce it, though it may still exist on paper
文法句型
declare [something] void
render [something] void
null and void
用法筆記
Distinguish from the verb 'void' (sense verb/1, NULLIFY): a contract that is 'void' has no legal force by itself; a contract that someone 'voided' was deliberately cancelled by a person or court. 'Null and void' is a common fixed legal expression meaning completely invalid.
常見錯誤
2. completely without a particular quality, feature, or thing; having none of somet
completely without a particular quality, feature, or thing; having none of something that would normally be expected.
The essay was completely void of any original ideas or interesting arguments.
void of [something] = completely without
Her face was completely void of emotion when she heard the announcement.
The old house stood void of furniture for more than ten years.
The conversation felt void of meaning, so Yara decided to leave early.
文法句型
void of [something]
用法筆記
Almost always followed by 'of' — you cannot say 'a void room' to mean 'a room void of furniture'. Used only in the pattern 'void of + noun'. More formal than 'without'. Not placed before the noun it describes.
常見錯誤
voids — verb
- voidspresent simple I / you / we / they
- voidses3rd person singular
- voidsing-ing form
- voidsedpast simple
1. to officially cancel a legal document, agreement, or decision so that it no long
to officially cancel a legal document, agreement, or decision so that it no longer has any force or effect under the law.
The company voided the contract after discovering the hidden fees and charges.
void + [agreement/contract]
The Supreme Court voided the lower court's decision on the tax case.
The landlord voided the lease when the tenant failed to pay rent.
A judge can void a will if the person who wrote it was not of sound mind.
The election results were voided because of widespread cheating at the polling stations.
- nullify
very similar; 'nullify' can be used more broadly, not only in legal contexts
- annul
specific to marriages, contracts, or court decisions; suggests retroactively invalidating
- cancel
broader and more everyday; includes all kinds of arrangements, not just legal
- revoke
usually for licenses, permissions, or privileges that are taken back
文法句型
void + noun phrase (contract/will/marriage/decision)
用法筆記
Frequently used in passive constructions ('was voided'). The object is almost always a legal document, decision, or official result — you would not 'void' a dinner reservation or a bus ticket in everyday speech. Distinguish from the adjective 'void' (adj/1): a contract can be 'void' by itself, or someone can 'void' it.
常見錯誤
2. to remove all the contents or people from a space, container, or area so that no
to remove all the contents or people from a space, container, or area so that nothing remains inside.
The court order required the squatters to void the premises within forty-eight hours.
void the premises (formal/legal context)
Technicians voided the coolant system of all residual fluid before beginning repairs.
void [system] of [fluid] (technical)
The sergeant ordered the troops to void the barracks of all personal belongings for inspection.
The contractor voided the storage tank of all remaining chemicals before dismantling it.
- fill
to put contents into a container or space
文法句型
void + noun phrase (contents/room/building)
void [container] of [contents]
用法筆記
This sense is less common in modern everyday English; 'empty', 'clear', or 'evacuate' are preferred in most contexts. Still found in formal and technical writing (legal orders, engineering manuals, military procedures). The pattern 'void [place] of [contents/occupants]' is particularly common in attested formal usage.
常見錯誤
3. to expel bodily waste through urination or defecation — a clinical term used mai
to expel bodily waste through urination or defecation — a clinical term used mainly by doctors and nurses.
The patient was unable to void urine for several hours after the operation.
void urine (medical context)
The doctor asked Leo whether he had been able to void that morning.
The new medication helped her void waste more easily and without discomfort.
The nurse recorded how often the elderly man voided during the night shift.
- retain
to hold waste inside the body; used in medical contexts
文法句型
void (intransitive)
void + urine/waste (transitive)
用法筆記
A formal or clinical term. In everyday conversation, native speakers use simpler words like 'pee', 'go to the bathroom', or 'urinate'. 'Void' in this sense is almost exclusively found in medical charts, doctor-patient discussions, and biology textbooks.