empty-handed

[emp-tee-han-did]

adjective

1. having nothing in the hands, as in doing no work.

   While we were carrying out the luggage, he stood by empty-handed.

2. having gained nothing.

   to return from a quest empty-handed.

3. bringing no gift, donation, etc..

   They came to the birthday party empty-handed.

empty-handed

adjective

1. carrying nothing in the hands

2. having gained nothing

   they returned from the negotiations empty-handed

Word History and Origins

Origin of empty-handed¹

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

We left the store, him empty-handed, me with Sally Rooney’s “Beautiful World, Where Are You.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I’m empty-handed, except with a collection of memories stimulated just in the last hour and a half by walking through the exhibition they’ve so ingeniously assembled.”

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Congressional Democrats traveled to El Salvador to push for information about the detainees and came back empty-handed.

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One of the most watched TV shows of the year, The Traitors, went home empty-handed after being beaten by I'm a Celebrity in the reality competition category.

Read more on BBC

Moments later, a businessman entered his office seeking a withdrawal amounting to $500 to pay his bills; he too left empty-handed.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• destitute 
• impoverished 
• indigent 
• low 
• meager 
• needy 
• penniless 
• poverty-stricken 
• underprivileged