empty
containing nothing; having none of the usual or appropriate contents: an empty bottle.
having no occupant or occupants; vacant; unoccupied: an empty house.
without cargo or load: an empty wagon.
destitute of people or human activity: We walked along the empty streets of the city at night.
destitute of some quality or qualities; devoid (usually followed by of): Theirs is a life now empty of happiness.
without force, effect, or significance; hollow; meaningless: empty compliments; empty pleasures.
not employed in useful activity or work; idle: empty summer days.
hungry: I'm feeling rather empty—let's have lunch.
completely spent of emotion: The experience had left him with an empty heart.
to make empty; deprive of contents; discharge the contents of: to empty a bucket.
to discharge (contents): to empty the water out of a bucket.
to become empty: The room emptied rapidly after the lecture.
to discharge contents, as a river: The river empties into the sea.
Informal. something that is empty, as a box, bottle, or can: Throw the empties into the waste bin.
Origin of empty
1synonym study For empty
Other words for empty
Opposites for empty
Other words from empty
- emp·ti·a·ble, adjective
- emp·ti·er, noun
- emp·ti·ly, adverb
- emp·ti·ness, noun
- o·ver·emp·ty, adjective
- qua·si-emp·ty, adjective
- self-emp·ty·ing, adjective
- un·emp·tied, adjective
- un·emp·ty, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use empty in a sentence
Brabner talked about the “MTV people” coming to Cleveland to get pictures of Pekar emptying the garbage and going bowling.
The Rustbelt Roars Back From the Dead | Joel Kotkin, Richey Piiparinen | December 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTA small stream flows from high up in the Korengal and meanders down through the valley before emptying into the Pech River.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley | Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman | November 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIt did little to stop this juggernaut, as the Chiefs racked up another 47 points in the second half, despite emptying their bench.
Native American Basketball Team in Wyoming Have Hoop Dreams Of Their Own | Robert Silverman | August 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI used to fantasize about emptying his Smirnoff bottle in the kitchen sink and filling it back up with water.
The 27-year-old was in her element at the bash, spraying cans of Lone Star beer at the crowd and emptying a few water bottles.
Lady Gaga at SXSW: Vomit, Sausage Fellatio, and a Moving Speech for Victims of the Auto Tragedy | Marlow Stern | March 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Well, youth; be of good cheer—He, who has little, has little to lose; and a soldier's pocket is seldom much lighter for emptying.
The Battle of Hexham; | George Colman"We're using up our reserve supply," said Clip, while they were emptying the canteens into the tanks.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run | Stanley R. MatthewsIt skirts the base of some low hills and flows nearly south in emptying into the Kanawha.
A Virginia Scout | Hugh PendexterSo from thence home, where my house of office was emptying, and I find they will do, it with much more cleanness than I expected.
Diary of Samuel Pepys, Complete | Samuel PepysIt has emptying into it several small rivers navigable for 100 miles and upward.
The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, Volume II (of 3) | Elliott Coues
British Dictionary definitions for empty
/ (ˈɛmptɪ) /
containing nothing
without inhabitants; vacant or unoccupied
carrying no load, passengers, etc
without purpose, substance, or value: an empty life
insincere or trivial: empty words
not expressive or vital; vacant: she has an empty look
informal hungry
(postpositive foll by of) devoid; destitute: a life empty of happiness
informal drained of energy or emotion: after the violent argument he felt very empty
maths logic (of a set or class) containing no members
philosophy logic (of a name or description) having no reference
to make or become empty
(when intr, foll by into) to discharge (contents)
(tr often foll by of) to unburden or rid (oneself): to empty oneself of emotion
an empty container, esp a bottle
Origin of empty
1Derived forms of empty
- emptiable, adjective
- emptier, noun
- emptily, adverb
- emptiness, noun
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with empty
In addition to the idioms beginning with empty
- empty calories
- empty nest
- empty suit
also see:
- glass is half full (half empty)
- running on empty
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse