vac·u·um
ˈva-(ˌ)kyüm 
-kyəm,
also
-kyü-əm
plural vacuums or vacua
ˈva-kyə-wə
1
: emptiness of space
2
a
: a space absolutely devoid of matter
b
: a space partially exhausted (as to the highest degree possible) by artificial means (such as an air pump)
c
: a degree of rarefaction below atmospheric pressure
3
a
: a state or condition resembling a vacuum : void
the power vacuum in Indochina after the departure of the French—
Norman Cousins
Norman Cousins
b
: a state of isolation from outside influences
people who live in a vacuum … so that the world outside them is of no moment—W. S. Maugham
W. S. Maugham4
: a device creating or utilizing a partial vacuum
especially
: vacuum cleaner
vacuumed; vacuuming; vacuums
1
: to use a vacuum device (such as a vacuum cleaner) on
vacuum the living room
2
: to draw or take in by or as if by suction
: to operate a vacuum device
1
: of, containing, producing, or utilizing a partial vacuum
separated by means of vacuum distillation
2
: of or relating to a vacuum device or system
Examples of vacuum in a Sentence
Noun
the vacuum of outer space
A pump was used to create a vacuum inside the bottle.
Recent Examples on the WebAatish Taseer, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Simply sweep, vacuum, or rinse it with a garden hose for easy maintenance.
—Bridget Degnan, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2024
Use either a broom or vacuum to remove the dirt, then go over the surface with a mop or a Swiffer equipped with a wet pad.
—Jennifer Barger, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Unlike the autonomous vacuum, which uses sensors to roam around your house looking for carpet dirt, Detroit’s first high-tech cleaning machine — dubbed the BeBot, short for beach robot — is operated by a human with a remote control and video-game dexterity.
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 10 Apr. 2024
The problem is that none of the smart home platforms support robot vacuums through Matter.
—Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 9 Apr. 2024
If that wasn’t bad enough, the Israeli strike on the World Central Kitchen convoy that killed seven aid workers has led the WCF—one of the groups Israel was looking to fill the vacuum—to pause their services.
—Mairav Zonszein, TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
Unlike other food storage systems, this relies on a vacuum for sealing up bags and containers, and keeps food up to five times fresher, per the brand.
—Michelle Rostamian, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Those divides have created a vacuum that states have increasingly looked to fill, with more than a dozen passing their own privacy laws.
—Cristiano Lima-Strong, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Nancy Run Fire Company via AP Norfolk Southern said that containment booms have been deployed and the diesel will be vacuumed out.
—Joe Kottke, NBC News, 2 Mar. 2024
Let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming up.
—Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2024
For a quick clean, the brand prefers shaking the mat instead of vacuuming it.
—Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024
This particular filter should be wiped clean or vacuumed monthly and then replaced every six months.
—Kelsey Kunik, Parents, 15 Feb. 2024
Mining contractors have tested robots that vacuum up the nodules, which are a habitat for deep ocean animals.
—Todd Woody, Fortune Europe, 13 Jan. 2024
Glass jars that have been vacuum sealed with a food evacuator are the gold standard, says Schaich.
—Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 12 Mar. 2024
Coffee grounds were vacuumed completely away in a few swipes and didn’t go deep into the carpet.
—Alida Nugent, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Feb. 2024
Amanda Ogle, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2024
The non-vacuum up there is dense enough, in fact, that atmospheric drag keeps pulling the station down, requiring regular orbital boosts.
—Corey S Powell, Discover Magazine, 1 Feb. 2017
Noun
No artist is born into a vacuum, or later speaks into one.
—Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Simply sweep, vacuum, or rinse it with a garden hose for easy maintenance.
—Bridget Degnan, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2024
Use either a broom or vacuum to remove the dirt, then go over the surface with a mop or a Swiffer equipped with a wet pad.
—Jennifer Barger, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Unlike the autonomous vacuum, which uses sensors to roam around your house looking for carpet dirt, Detroit’s first high-tech cleaning machine — dubbed the BeBot, short for beach robot — is operated by a human with a remote control and video-game dexterity.
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 10 Apr. 2024
The problem is that none of the smart home platforms support robot vacuums through Matter.
—Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 9 Apr. 2024
If that wasn’t bad enough, the Israeli strike on the World Central Kitchen convoy that killed seven aid workers has led the WCF—one of the groups Israel was looking to fill the vacuum—to pause their services.
—Mairav Zonszein, TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
Unlike other food storage systems, this relies on a vacuum for sealing up bags and containers, and keeps food up to five times fresher, per the brand.
—Michelle Rostamian, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Those divides have created a vacuum that states have increasingly looked to fill, with more than a dozen passing their own privacy laws.
—Cristiano Lima-Strong, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Verb
The device is designed to vacuum, wash, and steam-clean messes on a variety of floor types.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Nancy Run Fire Company via AP Norfolk Southern said that containment booms have been deployed and the diesel will be vacuumed out.
—Joe Kottke, NBC News, 2 Mar. 2024
Let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming up.
—Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2024
For a quick clean, the brand prefers shaking the mat instead of vacuuming it.
—Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024
This particular filter should be wiped clean or vacuumed monthly and then replaced every six months.
—Kelsey Kunik, Parents, 15 Feb. 2024
Mining contractors have tested robots that vacuum up the nodules, which are a habitat for deep ocean animals.
—Todd Woody, Fortune Europe, 13 Jan. 2024
Glass jars that have been vacuum sealed with a food evacuator are the gold standard, says Schaich.
—Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 12 Mar. 2024
Coffee grounds were vacuumed completely away in a few swipes and didn’t go deep into the carpet.
—Alida Nugent, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Both the container and the vacuum sealer bags keep food fresh for up to five times longer than non-vacuum sealed containers, plus, the container and bags are reusable and resealable.
—Amanda Ogle, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2024
The non-vacuum up there is dense enough, in fact, that atmospheric drag keeps pulling the station down, requiring regular orbital boosts.
—Corey S Powell, Discover Magazine, 1 Feb. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vacuum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to vacuum
Dictionary Entries Near vacuum
Cite this Entry
“Vacuum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vacuum. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plural vacuums or vacua
-yə-wə
1
a
: a space completely empty of matter
b
: a space from which most of the air has been removed (as by a pump)
2
vacuum
2 of 3 adjective
: of, containing, producing, or using a partial vacuum
the vacuum method of making coffee
vacuum
3 of 3 verb
: to use a vacuum cleaner on
Etymology
Noun
from Latin vacuum "emptiness," from vacuus "empty"
Medical Definition
vacuum
1 of 2 noun
vac·u·um
ˈvak-(ˌ)yüm
-yu̇-əm
-yu̇-əm
-yəm
plural vacuums or vacua
-yə-wə
1
: emptiness of space
2
a
: a space absolutely devoid of matter
b
: a space partially exhausted (as to the highest degree possible) by artificial means (as an air pump)
c
: a degree of rarefaction below atmospheric pressure : negative pressure
vacuum
2 of 2 adjective1
: of, containing, producing, or utilizing a partial vacuum
separated by means of vacuum distillation
2
: of or relating to a vacuum device or system
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share