empty nester
noun
a parent whose children have reached adulthood and left home.
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empty nester
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empty-nester
empty-nesternouna married person whose children have grown up and left home
empty nester
American
Or
empty-nester
noun
empty-nester
British
noun
Etymology
Origin of empty nester
First recorded in 1960–65; empty nest + -er 1
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.
See Examples For:
Based in Cheshire, she shares her experience of being an "empty nester" on social media.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
Having a third child, which she still thinks about, would mean she wouldn’t be an empty nester until her mid-60s.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 7, 2026
For Veronica P., an empty nester who moved to Olive Dell in March 2024, the ranch offered her acceptance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2025
But then, as she approached becoming an empty nester, Dressback began having panic attacks around being gay, she said, feeling that “I’ve pushed this down for a really long time.”
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2024
Milestones like a 40th or 50th birthday, or becoming an empty nester, can provoke uncertainty about your life and your future.
From New York Times ● Jan. 20, 2024
Bryant is a recent empty-nester, so she’s looking for someone who’s experienced as much life as she has and knows how to have fun at the same time.
From Salon ● May 5, 2025
Today: The soon-to-be empty-nester — who lives in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village with longtime husband Chris Henchy — continues to act, primarily in TV movies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2023
And, like that, I became an afternoon empty-nester.
From Seattle Times ● May 6, 2022
As the "Friends" alum prepares to be an empty-nester, she spoke to People magazine about motherhood and her relationship with Coco.
From Fox News ● Jan. 27, 2022
And neither is her guest of honor that day, Michelle Obama, the nation’s most famous empty-nester, who told Winfrey she’s trying to figure out “how I want to spend the rest of my life.”
From Washington Post ● Feb. 12, 2020
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