va ‧ can ‧ cy /ˈveɪkənsi/ BrE AmE noun ( plural vacancies )
1 . [countable] a job that is available for someone to start doing:
There are still two vacancies on the school board.
vacancy for
We have no vacancies for photographers at the moment.
The council is making every effort to fill the vacancies.
information about job vacancies
2 . [countable] a room in a hotel or building that is not being used and is available for someone to stay in:
Let me see if we have a vacancy for tonight.
‘No vacancies’, the sign read.
3 . [uncountable] written lack of interest or thought:
His mouth fell open and the look of vacancy returned.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + vacancy
▪ a job vacancy
He searched the newspapers regularly for job vacancies.
▪ a suitable vacancy
We will keep your CV on file in case other suitable vacancies arise.
▪ an unfilled vacancy (=a job for which no one has been hired)
The teaching unions estimate there are some 10,000 unfilled vacancies.
▪ a staff vacancy
Other officers are working overtime because of staff vacancies.
■ verbs
▪ have a vacancy
We have no vacancies for cleaners at present.
▪ advertise a vacancy
Where did you see the vacancy advertised?
▪ fill a vacancy (=find or be a new person for a job)
We are making every effort to fill the vacancies.
▪ create/leave a vacancy
the vacancy which was created by White’s resignation
▪ there is a vacancy
She asked if there were any vacancies for salespeople.
▪ a vacancy comes up ( also a vacancy arises/occurs formal ) (=there is a vacancy)
A vacancy has arisen on the committee.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ job noun [countable] the regular paid work that you do for an employer:
a full-time job
|
John got a job in a car factory.
▪ work noun [uncountable] activities that you are paid for doing – used either when you work for an employer or when you work in your own business:
I started work when I was 18.
|
He graduated from college last year and is still looking for work.
▪ profession noun [countable] a job for which you need special education and training:
There are now a lot more women in the legal profession.
|
Many teachers are leaving the profession.
▪ occupation noun [countable] formal a job, or a type of job – often used on official documents:
Please give your name, age, and occupation.
|
a traditionally male occupation
▪ career noun [countable] the work you do or plan to do for most of your life:
I’m interested in a career in journalism.
▪ position noun [countable] formal a particular job within an organization:
I am writing to apply for the position of technical assistant.
|
We regret that the position has already been filled.
|
Please state the position which you are applying for.
▪ post noun [countable] formal a job, especially an important one in a large organization:
She has held the post of managing director for two years.
|
He applied for the post of Senior Manager.
▪ vacancy/opening noun [countable] a job that is available for someone to do:
The hospital has been unable to fill the vacancy.
|
There are very few openings in scientific research.
▪ appointment noun [countable] an important job which someone is asked to do:
He took an appointment as US trade ambassador in Geneva.
▪ posting noun [countable] a situation in which someone is sent somewhere to do a job for a period of time by the organization they work for:
This was his first posting outside the UK.
|
an overseas posting
|
His next posting took him to the Ministry of Defence.
▪ trade noun [countable] a job that involves using your hands, and for which you need special training:
Most of the men had worked in skilled trades such as carpentry and printing.
▪ employment noun [uncountable] the fact of having a job:
The factory will provide employment for local people.
|
She was offered employment in the sales office.