vacant

empty, vacant, hollow

这一组词都表示“空的”，但涵义有所不同。
empty: 意思是“里面没有东西”、“一无所有”，具有“空无一物”的隐含意义，它可以用来描绘box、vessel、cupboard、bag、purse、room、house、street、stomach、head 等词。

• this trunk is empty of its contents.
  这只箱子空空如也。
• we found the room empty.
  我们发现房间里空无一物。
• at midnight even the busiest street is empty.
  午夜时分，甚至最繁忙的大道上也不见人影。

vacant: 意思是“闲着的”、“无人占据的”，着重指临时性的情况，如：vacant seat、vacant apartment、vacant position等。

• we have no vacant position here.
  我们这里没有空职。
• a vacant seat was found in this compartment.
  在这个车厢里找到了一个空的座位。

hollow: 意思是“空心的”、“中空的”、“空洞的”、“下陷的”，它常与tree、ball、cheeks、voice、sound、words、promise等词连用，由此可见，它既可用以指实物的“中空”，亦可指 words、promise、compliments的“虚假”，用于后者场合是比喻意义。

• this is a hollow tree.
  这是一棵中空的树。
• i don't like to hear his hollow words.
  我不喜欢听他那些空洞的话。
• the tears rolled down her hollow cheeks.
  泪水从她下陷的双颊流了下来。
• his argument sounds hollow.
  他的论点空洞。

形容词 vacant:

1. void of thought or knowledge
2. without an occupant or incumbent

1. There are some vacant offices on the third floor.
   四楼有几间空著的办公室。
2. Several candidates had been manoeuvring for position long before the leadership became vacant.
   领导职位尚未空缺，几个竞争者早就在为向上爬而钩心斗角了。
3. The lavatory is vacant.
   厕所现在无人使用。
4. He was appointed to the vacant post.
   他被委派填补那空缺。
5. The professorship of zoology is vacant and has been advertised.
   动物学教授的职位空缺，已登广告徵聘。
6. He does not know what to do with his vacant time.
   他不知道空闲时间该干点什么。
7. If that room is vacant, we can practice there.
   如果那个房间空着，我们可以在那练习。