laying vacant

USAGE SUMMARY

"laying vacant" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a period of time when something is not being used or taken advantage of, for example: "The property has been laying vacant since the owners moved out years ago."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

There are only 12,000 physicians working in the public sector and more than 2,000 physicians posts laying vacant in the same sector.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Across the street, a house lays vacant, board covering the windows, its walls sloping precariously to the right.

The Guardian - Sport

The unidentified man was found laying in a vacant lot in the 3900 block of South Federal Street around 3 a.m.

Huffington Post

(lay, laid, laid, laying).

WikiHow

In February the foundations will be laid in the vacant lot.

The New York Times - Arts

At the end, he reads out "The Fall of the House of Usher," and Kaye combines the morbidity of Poe with an apocalyptic vision of the school laid waste — all vacant rooms and dry leaves gusting down the corridors.

The New Yorker

He started putting up empty warehouses and laying out basic infrastructure for vacant lots.

Forbes

About 23 employees from the Public Works Department plan to retire and seven other positions may be lost by eliminating vacant positions or laying off employees, according to a city report.

Los Angeles Times

To fund the difference, the city approved eliminating 11 vacant positions and laying off four employees — three office specialists whose base pay is less than $60,000 and an information technology manager whose base pay is more than $120,000.

Los Angeles Times

Across the nation, companies are bracing for the fallout by laying off workers, letting jobs go vacant and postponing major purchases.

The Washington Post

The cuts, which will involve both laying off employees and leaving positions vacant, will be made across all departments, including curators.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing real estate or positions, consider using "laying vacant" to emphasize a temporary state of being unused or unfilled.

Common error

Ensure you use "laying" only when referring to the act of placing something down. If you mean "being in a vacant state", "lying vacant" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "laying vacant" primarily functions as a descriptive modifier, often used to characterize the state of a noun (e.g., property, land, position). It indicates a temporary condition of being unoccupied or unused, suggesting potential for future use. This is supported by Ludwig's analysis, which confirms the phrase's usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "laying vacant" is a phrase used to describe something currently unoccupied or unused, often with an implication of potential future use. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While the phrase is relatively rare, it appears in various contexts, including news, science, and business. When using the phrase, be mindful of potential confusion with ""lying vacant"", which is more grammatically conventional. Ludwig's analysis and examples provide guidance on how to appropriately employ this phrase in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lying vacant

Interchanges the verb "laying" with "lying", keeping the same meaning.

being vacant

Transforms the phrase to a more direct and concise form.

staying empty

Uses simpler vocabulary to convey the same concept.

remaining unoccupied

Replaces the phrase with a more formal and descriptive alternative.

left empty

Focuses on the action of becoming vacant.

standing idle

Emphasizes the inactivity associated with being vacant.

unfilled

Conveys the absence of something that should be present.

available

Highlights the potential for occupancy or use.

desolate

Suggests a sense of abandonment and emptiness.

forsaken

Conveys a feeling of being abandoned or deserted.

FAQs

What does "laying vacant" mean?

"Laying vacant" describes something that is currently unused or unoccupied, often temporarily. Similar to "lying vacant", it suggests a period of inactivity or emptiness.

How can I use "laying vacant" in a sentence?

You can use "laying vacant" to describe properties or positions that are currently unoccupied. For example, "The office building has been laying vacant since the company relocated."

What's the difference between "laying vacant" and "lying vacant"?

While similar in meaning, "laying vacant" is less common. "Lying vacant" is generally preferred as it correctly uses the intransitive verb "lie". "Laying" requires a direct object.

What are some alternatives to "laying vacant"?

Alternatives include "remaining unoccupied", "staying empty", or "being vacant", depending on the context and desired level of formality.