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.
The VA says it’s already tested that course and came up empty-handed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos, walked out of his office empty-handed.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 8, 2026
Americans and Iranians faced each other across a conference table in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, but came away empty-handed.
From BBC ● May 5, 2026
“Marty Supreme,” which was nominated for nine awards, went home empty-handed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 16, 2026
Maybe if she returned to the city in a month, starving and empty-handed, Dr. Cable would take mercy on her.
From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld
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.
