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noun Common

vacuum

VA-kyoom
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Vacuum (noun) means a space that is completely empty of matter, including air. Example: “Scientists created a vacuum inside the glass chamber to test the experiment.”

noun
1
A space that is completely empty of matter, including air.
"Scientists created a vacuum inside the glass chamber to test the experiment."
"In a perfect vacuum, a feather and a stone fall together."
"Sound cannot travel through a vacuum."
verb
1
To clean a surface using a vacuum cleaner.
"I always vacuum the stairs on Saturday mornings."
"She vacuumed the living room before the guests arrived."
"Can you vacuum under the sofa while I dust?"

How to use vacuum

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither total emptiness (no air at all) or the act of cleaning with a vacuum cleaner.

Common mistake

In everyday speech "vacuum" as a verb almost always means cleaning with a vacuum cleaner, not the scientific sense of empty space.

Common pairings
vacuum the carpet a vacuum cleaner power vacuum (figurative)
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Word forms

Third person singular
vacuums
Past tense
vacuumed
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Scientists created a _____ inside the glass chamber to test the experiment.

Etymology

From Latin vacuum, "empty space," from vacuus ("empty"). The cleaning sense comes from the suction action of a vacuum cleaner, which mimics pulling air (and dirt) into an empty space.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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void emptiness nothingness hoover vacuity vacancy

Antonyms

substance

Related words

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Rhymes for vacuum

continuum
See all rhymes for vacuum →

Frequently asked questions

What does “vacuum” mean?
The word “vacuum” means a space that is completely empty of matter, including air. In plain terms, either total emptiness (no air at all) or the act of cleaning with a vacuum cleaner.
How do you pronounce “vacuum”?
“Vacuum” is pronounced VA-kyoom (/ˈvæ.kjuːm/ in IPA).
How do you use “vacuum” in a sentence?
Here is “vacuum” used in a sentence: “Sound cannot travel through a vacuum.”
What part of speech is “vacuum”?
Depending on how it is used, “vacuum” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “vacuum” come from?
The word “vacuum” comes from Latin. From Latin vacuum, "empty space," from vacuus ("empty"). The cleaning sense comes from the suction action of a vacuum cleaner, which mimics pulling air (and dirt) into an empty space.
Is “vacuum” a common word?
“Vacuum” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “vacuum” have?
“Vacuum” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a space that is completely empty of matter, including air.
Is it vacuum or vaccum?
The correct spelling is vacuum: one c and a double u. Misspellings like "vaccum" and "vacume" are common because the letter sequence "uu" is rare in English — vacuum is one of the few everyday English words that contains it.
What is the plural of vacuum?
Vacuums is the standard plural in everyday use, for both the cleaning appliances and empty spaces. The Latin plural vacua survives mainly in technical and scientific writing about spaces empty of matter.
Is it vacuum or hoover?
Both are used as verbs meaning to clean with a vacuum cleaner. Vacuum is standard everywhere ("I vacuumed the stairs"), while hoover — from the Hoover brand name — is an informal British alternative that is rarely used in American English.

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