as in to brush
to use a vacuum cleaner on (something) in order to remove dirt
I vacuumed the living room.
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as in void
a large empty space
the vacuum of outer space The loss of his friend left a vacuum in his life.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vacuum
Sunshine Flint, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
For curtains, pull the fabric taut and gently vacuum them in an up-and-down motion.
—Emily Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 2026
Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2026
This step alone makes a noticeable difference and costs nothing beyond the electricity to run your vacuum.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vacuum
Verb
Then once a month, use an upholstery attachment and vacuum your mattress while your bed is stripped.
—Sunshine Flint, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
For curtains, pull the fabric taut and gently vacuum them in an up-and-down motion.
—Emily Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
And while vodka Martinis can be charming all their own, the aromatic complexities of gin and vermouth lock into each other like a vacuum seal, and render the cocktail’s 130-year dominance immediately clear.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2026
This step alone makes a noticeable difference and costs nothing beyond the electricity to run your vacuum.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vacuum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vacuum
Verb
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Its tulle is brittle and sharp, brushing against my fur like a thousand tiny teeth, a cruel lover that bites with every move.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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Guerrero brushed her sister’s hair.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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For every event that closes, such as the Johannesburg Biennale (held in 1995 and 1997) and the Marrakech Biennale (2004–16), others, like the Lagos Biennial (founded in 2017) and the Stellenbosch Triennial (founded in 2020), emerge to fill the void.—
Smooth Nzewi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
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Padilla had given Perez a phone number, but all her calls went into a void.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Coming off an excruciating 119-loss season, the Rockies cleaned house in the front office and promised a new, exciting era of baseball.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
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Kelse Redd, owner of professional cleaning company So Fresh So Clean, recommends starting with the blinds, fully dusting and wiping them down.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Most people would agree that cheating and planning a school shooting are hardly equal offenses, and Borgli doesn't totally stick the landing by sweeping Emma's past impulses under the rug.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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The roofline sweeps low and sleek.—
Sponsored Content,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Raw meat was frozen in trash bags and an employee washed dishes without rinsing them.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
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The manager ordered more sanitizer and bleach during the inspection, and the dishware was corrected to be washed manually until the dishwasher has more sanitizer.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Blot — don’t scrub — with a clean cloth.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Apr. 2026
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The May 6 attempt was scrubbed two hours before liftoff because of valve on ULA’s upper Centaur stage that teams continue to investigate.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vacuum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacuum. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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