What the empties have been (7)

I believe the answer is:

vacated

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'been' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with social activities as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for vacated that I've seen is " Quitted".)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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