unoccupied

/'ʌn'ɔkjupaid/

Thân thiện

An unoccupied park bench sits beneath a large oak tree.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not being used, lived in, or filled: Describes a space, place, or time that is empty, available, or not currently in use by people or activities.
   • Not busy; idle: Describes a period when someone is not engaged in work or an activity.
   • Not under the control of a military force: Describes an area that is not seized or held by an enemy or occupying force.

Usage and Examples

• Describing a vacant space or property:

  • The house next door has been unoccupied for months.
  • Please take any unoccupied seat.

• Describing free time:

  • She spent her unoccupied hours reading.
  • I was unoccupied, so I decided to help.

• Describing a non-militarized area:

  • The troops retreated to unoccupied territory.
  • They established a camp in an unoccupied zone.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Unoccupied" vs. "Vacant": While often similar, "unoccupied" can imply a temporary state (e.g., a room not in use at this moment), whereas "vacant" can imply a more permanent or official state of emptiness (e.g., a vacant position or a vacant lot).
• Legal/Formal Context: In property law, "unoccupied" specifically means not being lived in by a tenant or owner, though the property may still contain belongings.
  • The landlord entered the unoccupied apartment to make repairs.

Variants and Related Words

• Unoccupancy (noun): The state of being unoccupied.
  • The unoccupancy rate for downtown offices is high.
• Occupied (adjective): The direct antonym, meaning in use, filled, or busy.

Synonyms

• Empty: Containing no people or things.
• Vacant: Not filled or occupied; available.
• Idle: Not active or in use; (of a person) not working.
• Free: Not occupied or in use; available.

Antonyms

• Occupied: In use, filled, or busy.
• Inhabited: Lived in.
• Engaged: Busy; occupied.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To lie unoccupied: To remain empty or unused over time.
  • The building has lain unoccupied for years.
• To sit unoccupied: To be empty and not used (often for a seat or room).
  • The expensive office sat unoccupied for months.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. not leased to or occupied by a tenant
   • an unoccupied apartment
   • very little unclaimed and untenanted land
2. not seized and controlled
   • unoccupied areas of France
3. not held or filled or in use
   • an unoccupied telephone booth
   • unoccupied hours

Từ đồng nghĩa

• untenanted