has been vacant

USAGE SUMMARY

'has been vacant' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when referring to a place or job that has been empty or unoccupied. For example, "The position of president at the company has been vacant since last month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Since then it has been vacant.

The New York Times

It has been vacant ever since.

The New York Times

The post has been vacant since November.

The New York Times

North Wilkesboro Speedway has been vacant since.

The New York Times - Sports

The post has been vacant ever since.

The New York Times

The powerful position has been vacant for months.

The New York Times

The presidency has been vacant since Nov. 23.

The New York Times

The position has been vacant since the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak in February.

The New York Times

The job has been vacant since the end of the 2008-9 season.

The New York Times

Sophie Kelly is joining Barbarian as president, a post that has been vacant at the agency.

The New York Times

The 1.1-million-square-foot property, which abuts Industry City, has been vacant for a decade.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a duration, specify the length of time something "has been vacant" to provide context. For example, "The property has been vacant for five years."

Common error

Avoid using past simple tense when the vacancy is ongoing. Instead of saying "The position was vacant," use "The position "has been vacant"" to indicate it still is.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been vacant" functions as a stative verb phrase, describing the condition of something lacking an occupant or use. It indicates a state that began in the past and continues to the present. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been vacant" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe something currently unoccupied, be it a position, property, or role. According to Ludwig, the phrase follows standard English grammar rules and is appropriate for various contexts, primarily in news and media, but also in formal business and scientific settings. While alternatives like "has been unoccupied" or "has been empty" exist, "has been vacant" offers a clear and effective way to convey the state of being unoccupied. Remember to specify the duration to provide context and to use the correct tense to indicate an ongoing state. Ludwig AI confirms the high-quality usage examples and the general applicability of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been unoccupied

Emphasizes the lack of physical occupation. Slightly more formal.

has remained empty

Highlights the continuation of the state of being empty over time.

has been empty

A more straightforward and commonly used alternative.

has been unfilled

Specifically refers to positions or roles that lack an occupant.

has been uninhabited

Focuses on the absence of residents, typically for dwellings.

has stood empty

Highlights the physical presence of something that is not being used.

has lacked an occupant

More formal, emphasizing the absence of someone taking up space.

remains vacant

A more concise way of stating the continuing vacancy.

has been devoid of

A more emphatic alternative, applicable to abstract concepts.

has seen no activity

Focuses on the absence of actions or operations within the space.

FAQs

How can I use "has been vacant" in a sentence?

You can use "has been vacant" to describe a position, property, or role that is currently unoccupied. For example, "The CEO position "has been vacant" since June."

What's the difference between "has been vacant" and "was vacant"?

"Has been vacant" indicates a state that began in the past and continues to the present. "Was vacant" indicates a state that existed in the past but may not be true now.

What can I say instead of "has been vacant"?

You can use alternatives like "has been unoccupied", "has remained empty", or "has been empty" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the position is vacant since last year"? What is a better phrasing?

No, it is grammatically incorrect. The better phrasing is "The position "has been vacant" since last year" to indicate a continuing state.