empty
Containing nothing inside
With nothing inside; not holding anything.
[something] is empty
- The glass is empty after he drank the water.
- We walked through an empty hallway.
- Her desk drawer was completely empty.
- The stadium looked empty after the concert ended.
- The bag is empty.
- This cup is empty.
- The street is empty.
- My plate is empty now.
Remove all contents from something
To take everything out of something so it has nothing inside.
to empty [something]
- Please empty the dishwasher before dinner.
- He emptied his pockets onto the table.
- They emptied the room to prepare for painting.
- I empty my bag every night.
- She empties the trash in the kitchen.
- He empties the box before moving it.
Lacking meaning, value, or sincerity
Not having real feeling, meaning, or purpose.
[something] is empty
- He made an empty promise he could not keep.
- Her speech was full of empty words.
- They exchanged empty gestures at the meeting.
- That was an empty promise.
- Her words are empty.
- It is an empty gesture.
A container that has nothing inside it
Something like a bottle or box that has nothing inside it.
- He tossed the empty into the recycling bin.
- We collected several empties after the party.
- There are many empties in the bag.
- Please put the empties in the box.
- Base: empty
- Comparative: emptier
- Superlative: emptiest
- Base: empty
- 3rd Person Singular: empties
- Present Participle: emptying
- Past: emptied
empty out
1Remove all contents from something fully
To take everything out of something until it has nothing inside.
- Please empty out your bag for inspection.
- They emptied out the drawers before moving.
empty-handed
1Without getting what was wanted
Without bringing or getting what you expected or wanted.
- We went to the store but came back empty-handed.
- He left the meeting empty-handed after failing to get support.
run on empty
1Continue despite having no energy left
To keep working or going even though you are very tired or have no energy left.
- After three days without rest, she was running on empty.
- We're all running on empty after the long week.
empty nest
1Home after children have moved out
A home where children have grown up and moved away, leaving the parents alone.
- After their youngest left for college, they found themselves in an empty nest.
- Many parents feel lonely in their empty nest.
empty nest
2Home after children have left
A home where the children have grown up and left, so only the parents live there now.
- They are still getting used to the empty nest now that their youngest has gone to college.
- The couple decided to travel more once they found themselves in an empty nest.
- Many parents feel both freedom and sadness when they reach the empty nest stage.
on an empty stomach
1Having eaten no food recently
Without eating anything beforehand.
- Don't take this medicine on an empty stomach.
- He went jogging on an empty stomach and felt dizzy.
on an empty stomach
2Without having eaten recently
When you have not eaten anything before doing something.
- You shouldn't take this medicine on an empty stomach.
- Running on an empty stomach can make you feel weak.