empty-handed
Americanadjective
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having nothing in the hands, as in doing no work.
While we were carrying out the luggage, he stood by empty-handed.
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having gained nothing.
to return from a quest empty-handed.
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bringing no gift, donation, etc..
They came to the birthday party empty-handed.
adjective
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carrying nothing in the hands
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having gained nothing
they returned from the negotiations empty-handed
Etymology
Origin of empty-handed
First recorded in 1605–15
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Having beaten Australia and Japan in their first two games, Ireland will leave Auckland empty-handed after their fourth successive loss to New Zealand and must wait until November to atone for a sloppy first-half performance.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos, walked out of his office empty-handed.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 8, 2026
In SpaceX’s case, the bankers on the deal, led by Goldman Sachs along with Morgan Stanley, and together with the company pick which investors may buy shares and who walks away empty-handed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026
Kristen Bell, “Nobody Wants This” “Jean Smart isn’t going to win this award four straight times and then go home empty-handed for the final season of ‘Hacks.’
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
Last came Billy Pilgrim, empty-handed, bleakly ready for death.
From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
