nature abhors a vacuum

phrase

Generating and maintaining a near-vacuum is challenging (requiring technical rigor) because ambient pressure tends to push matter forcefully into the evacuated chamber; and generating a true vacuum (devoid of any matter at all) is extremely challenging.

“The ancients believed that nature abhors a vacuum.”

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Meanings

phrase
  1. idiomaticengineeringGenerating and maintaining a near-vacuum is challenging (requiring technical rigor) because ambient pressure tends to push matter forcefully into the evacuated chamber; and generating a true vacuum (devoid of any matter at all) is extremely challenging.

    The development of practical electric light bulbs was challenging not least because nature abhors a vacuum: removing all air from the bulbs was not as easy as it at first seemed.

  2. idiomaticGenerating a vacuum is impossible (a vacuum can never exist) owing to the inherent nature of the universe.

    The ancients believed that nature abhors a vacuum.

  3. governmentA power vacuum will usually be filled quickly.
Cite this entry
APA

nature abhors a vacuum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nature%20abhors%20a%20vacuum

MLA

“nature abhors a vacuum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nature%20abhors%20a%20vacuum. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nature abhors a vacuum,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nature%20abhors%20a%20vacuum.

Source: nature abhors a vacuum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.