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
Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 16 May 2026
If possible, vacuum out coils; this helps improve efficiency since dirt will get dislodged.
—Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 16 May 2026
Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
That matters because fossil fuel companies do not operate in a legal vacuum.
—Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for vacuum
Verb
Vacuum and Release Crickets Safely Another common method for dealing with indoor pests that doesn't harm them is to vacuum and release them.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 16 May 2026
If possible, vacuum out coils; this helps improve efficiency since dirt will get dislodged.
—Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 16 May 2026
Noun
These sensitive components typically only function in extremely cold, high-vacuum environments — conditions that help keep them stable and less prone to errors during calculations.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
That matters because fossil fuel companies do not operate in a legal vacuum.
—Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for vacuum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vacuum
Verb
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Lightly brush the tops with 1 tablespoon heavy cream and bake until deep golden brown and cooked through, about 15 minutes.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 May 2026
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New York — American shoppers are brushing off higher gas prices and finally spending money at Target again.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
20 May 2026
Noun
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And given that cruise collections are designed to fill the void in between seasons, when the weather varies by hour and no one has a clue what to wear or what to do with their hair, a mixed batch of looks felt appropriate.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
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Meanwhile, Cole takes on a new role at school, but when that doesn’t quite fill the void left by not playing football, his old ways creep back in and cause drama.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Why Pros Prefer White Linens In addition to looking luxurious, white linens are preferred by pro cleaners and launderers because they can be cleaned more rigorously.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
15 May 2026
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The project is seen as vital to clean water and a healthy environment for the South Florida region, as it is designed to store more water from Lake Okeechobee to be cleaned before it is sent south to the Everglades.—
Jim Turner,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Well, Brown needed a few more pitches this time, but the 26-year-old delivered a stellar performance to help the Cubs avoid getting swept at Truist Park.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
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The Knicks, who swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round, would have homecourt advantage against Cleveland, which is 1-5 on the road in the playoffs, but not against Detroit, which dominated the Knicks in three games this season.—
Adam Zagoria,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The shower caps are made from biodegradable corn starch, while the biodegradable slippers have no plastic wrapping and are washed before being donated to local students.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
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For example, in Liberia and Sierra Leone, some mourners bathe in water that was used to wash corpses.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
20 May 2026
Verb
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Use a narrow bottle brush to scrub all the openings and the interior of the holder.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
18 May 2026
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Avoid scrubbing aggressively, which can make the problem worse.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vacuum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vacuum. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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