emptier; emptiest
1
a
: containing nothing
empty shelves
b
: not occupied or inhabited
an empty building
c
d
: not pregnant
empty heifer
e
: null sense 4a
the empty set
2
3
: hungry
5
: marked by the absence of human life, activity, or comfort
an empty silence
emptied; emptying
1
2
: to remove from what holds or encloses
1
: to become empty
the theater emptied quickly
2
: to discharge contents
the river empties into the ocean
Synonyms
Examples of empty in a Sentence
Adjective
The arena was completely empty.
She felt trapped in an empty marriage.
unhappy people leading empty lives
Verb
She emptied the contents of her purse onto the table.
It's your turn to empty the trash.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
In the day, business continues as normal, but after sunset, the streets swiftly empty.
—Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 9 Apr. 2024
The accompanying music video featured home videos of Morgan and Lesli interspersed with what appeared to be Morgan singing the song in an empty room, only to later reveal that Lesli was there for the performance.
—Emily Krauser, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Thankfully, the schools were already empty by that time.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 7 Apr. 2024
Most of it involved moving Kleenex and changing the amount of light in empty rooms.
—Christopher Fiorello, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
When the water is running low, the humidifier has an indicator light to warn you, and the device will shut off when the water tank is empty.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2024
Make sure cans are clean and empty. Cartons: Food and beverage cartons.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
The Dali measures 984 feet long and weighs approximately 95,000 tons when empty.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
Bilal Shbair, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024
Soda bottles and food and beverage cans should be emptied and rinsed before recycling.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
They were also put to work, emptying puke buckets, and getting cold rags for the addicts lying on couches in communal areas.
—Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 1 Apr. 2024
But after Moose pressures the more sheepish AJ to empty his bank account for an overpaying bid on the Snack Shack, the only way out of the red is going all-in on the business.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024
These are airport servicing vehicles which empty the tank and take the contents to be processed on airport grounds.
—Julia Buckley, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024
The regulation further emptied an already limited toolbox available to local leaders.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2024
The weather emptied the beaches Friday and Saturday and pushed visitors and locals inside the bars and restaurants where college hoops aired on the TVs.
—Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 26 Mar. 2024
That drug helps empty the uterus through heavy bleeding and muscle contractions.
—Jen Christensen, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024
Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024
Glamour is gone as the reality of LA’s storm hits like a cold windy slap as Crypto empties out.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Feb. 2024
So get your clicking hands warmed up, toss out the shampoo empties on the edge of the tub, and keep reading to learn more about these rare discounts.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 24 Nov. 2023
Although plenty of tourists visit the memorial and the museum by day, the financial district empties out at night; it’s hardly known as an arts destination.
—Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2024
The boys stack cups and bowls and make fountains — and the water empties out to one of the series of swales Lefkowits constructed throughout the yard.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2024
This specific model features a high-speed motor with powerful suction, a dust cup that empties at the press of a button, and two brush heads to capture more debris.
—Bridget Degnan, Peoplemag, 1 Dec. 2023
As the end of each month approaches and her pill bottle empties, her anxiety spikes.
—Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2024
The finish is warm and lingering, with notes of citrus, spice, coconut, and some rock candy on final sips as your glass empties.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2023
Adjective
The shelves that once held reusable containers were empty, but the Easter decorations hadn’t moved.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
In the day, business continues as normal, but after sunset, the streets swiftly empty.
—Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 9 Apr. 2024
The accompanying music video featured home videos of Morgan and Lesli interspersed with what appeared to be Morgan singing the song in an empty room, only to later reveal that Lesli was there for the performance.
—Emily Krauser, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Thankfully, the schools were already empty by that time.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 7 Apr. 2024
Most of it involved moving Kleenex and changing the amount of light in empty rooms.
—Christopher Fiorello, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
When the water is running low, the humidifier has an indicator light to warn you, and the device will shut off when the water tank is empty.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2024
Make sure cans are clean and empty. Cartons: Food and beverage cartons.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
The Dali measures 984 feet long and weighs approximately 95,000 tons when empty.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
The shops had closed, the markets had emptied and fighting prevented supplies from reaching them.
—Bilal Shbair, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024
Soda bottles and food and beverage cans should be emptied and rinsed before recycling.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
They were also put to work, emptying puke buckets, and getting cold rags for the addicts lying on couches in communal areas.
—Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 1 Apr. 2024
But after Moose pressures the more sheepish AJ to empty his bank account for an overpaying bid on the Snack Shack, the only way out of the red is going all-in on the business.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024
These are airport servicing vehicles which empty the tank and take the contents to be processed on airport grounds.
—Julia Buckley, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024
The regulation further emptied an already limited toolbox available to local leaders.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2024
The weather emptied the beaches Friday and Saturday and pushed visitors and locals inside the bars and restaurants where college hoops aired on the TVs.
—Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 26 Mar. 2024
That drug helps empty the uterus through heavy bleeding and muscle contractions.
—Jen Christensen, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
While this vacuum is corded, the 15-foot cord reaches an entire room easily, and the 0.71-quart cup empties with the push of a button—there’s no bag to deal with.
—Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024
Glamour is gone as the reality of LA’s storm hits like a cold windy slap as Crypto empties out.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Feb. 2024
So get your clicking hands warmed up, toss out the shampoo empties on the edge of the tub, and keep reading to learn more about these rare discounts.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 24 Nov. 2023
Although plenty of tourists visit the memorial and the museum by day, the financial district empties out at night; it’s hardly known as an arts destination.
—Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2024
The boys stack cups and bowls and make fountains — and the water empties out to one of the series of swales Lefkowits constructed throughout the yard.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2024
This specific model features a high-speed motor with powerful suction, a dust cup that empties at the press of a button, and two brush heads to capture more debris.
—Bridget Degnan, Peoplemag, 1 Dec. 2023
As the end of each month approaches and her pill bottle empties, her anxiety spikes.
—Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2024
The finish is warm and lingering, with notes of citrus, spice, coconut, and some rock candy on final sips as your glass empties.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'empty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Old English ǣmettig unoccupied, from ǣmetta leisure, perhaps from ǣ- without + -metta (probably akin to mōtan to have to) — more at must
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
1844, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of empty was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing empty
Dictionary Entries Near empty
Cite this Entry
“Empty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empty. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
empty
1 of 3 adjective
emp·ty
ˈem(p)-tē 
emptier; emptiest
1
: containing nothing
an empty box
2
: not being lived in
an empty house
3
: having no reality or importance
empty dreams
4
: lacking in value, sense, effect, or sincerity
empty threats
5
: hungry sense 1
feel empty before dinner
6
: having no members
empty set
empty
2 of 3 verb
emptied; emptying
1
: to make empty : remove the contents of
empty a barrel
2
: to remove all of from a container
empty flour from a bag
3
: to become empty
the theater emptied quickly
4
: to give forth contents (as fluid) : discharge
the river empties into the ocean
empty
3 of 3 noun
plural empties
: an empty container
More from Merriam-Webster on empty
Nglish: Translation of empty for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of empty for Arabic Speakers
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