VACANTLY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does vacantly mean? 

• VACANTLY (adverb)
  The adverb VACANTLY has 1 sense:

1. in a vacant manner

  Familiarity information: VACANTLY used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VACANTLY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In a vacant manner

Context example:

she was staring vacantly into the room

Pertainym:

vacant (void of intelligence or thought)

 Context examples 

He stopped at the corner and looked about him vacantly.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“Why, if I was you,” said Mr. Dick, considering, and looking vacantly at me, “I should—”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set aquiline features.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The Orfling and I stood looking vacantly at each other in the middle of the road, and then shook hands and said good-bye; she going back, I suppose, to St. Luke's workhouse, as I went to begin my weary day at Murdstone and Grinby's.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)