empty nester

or empty-nester

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noun

a parent whose children have reached adulthood and left home.

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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

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Origin of empty nester

First recorded in 1960–65; empty nest + -er¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use empty nester in a sentence

He defied the atheism of communism and the empty religious practices of Putinism.
Remembering the Russian Priest Who Fought the Orthodox Church|Cathy Young|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Otherwise, we will be but celebrating an empty holiday, missing its true meaning altogether.
Jesus Wasn’t Born Rich. Think About It.|Gene Robinson|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Later schools empty out children, who race over to play games in the shade.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind|Brin-Jonathan Butler|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On Thursday, Russian bloggers published pictures of empty shelves in stores that once sold electric goods.
After His Disastrous Annual Press Conference, Putin Needs A Hug|Anna Nemtsova|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

If they are in fact linked to North Korea, the threat may not be as empty as people think.
Kim Jong Un’s Kid Gloves Are Now Off|Gordon G. Chang|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Herein he found an empty stall that was dark enough not to be seen, and still afforded sufficient light to read in.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
When the funeral was over, and they returned to their desolate home, at the sight of the empty cradle Ramona broke down.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
A quite young child will, for example, pretend to do something, as to take an empty cup and carry out the semblance of drinking.
Children's Ways|James Sully
For his heart seemed alternately full and empty; all the life he had was centred there.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
In Flanders, he says, they would never attack with empty limbers behind them; they would wait till they were full up.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton

British Dictionary definitions for empty nester

empty-nester

noun

informal a married person whose children have grown up and left home

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012