in a vacuum
idiom
: separated from outside events or influences
The group was operating in a vacuum, cut off from the rest of the world.
The city's riots did not happen in a vacuum. They were caused by recent political events.
Examples of in a vacuum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But signals don’t go from the generating source to the observer instantaneously; all physical signals propagate at a finite speed, with the fastest possible speed being the speed of light in a vacuum, c, or 299,792,458 m/s.
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Big Think, 25 Feb. 2026
Being in the room with these other actors was so helpful for performance and to build a sense of momentum so that every word, every line wasn’t uttered in isolation in a vacuum.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 24 Feb. 2026
Tax Implications Can Be Complicated Mortgage decisions do not exist in a vacuum.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Floridians’ reaction to the O’Garas’ experience does not exist in a vacuum.
—Bob Shaw, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for in a vacuum
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Big Think, 25 Feb. 2026
Being in the room with these other actors was so helpful for performance and to build a sense of momentum so that every word, every line wasn’t uttered in isolation in a vacuum.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 24 Feb. 2026
Tax Implications Can Be Complicated Mortgage decisions do not exist in a vacuum.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Floridians’ reaction to the O’Garas’ experience does not exist in a vacuum.
—Bob Shaw, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for in a vacuum
Cite this Entry
“In a vacuum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20a%20vacuum. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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