empty

¹emp·ty

adjective \ˈem(p)-tē\

: containing nothing

: not having any people : not occupied

: having no real purpose or value

emp·ti·eremp·ti·est

Full Definition of EMPTY

1

a :  containing nothing <empty shelves>

b :  not occupied or inhabited <an empty building>

c :  unfrequented

d :  not pregnant <empty heifer>

e :  null 4a <the empty set>

2

a :  lacking reality, substance, meaning, or value :  hollow <an empty pleasure>

b :  destitute of effect or force <an empty threat>

c :  devoid of sense :  foolish

3

:  hungry

4

a :  idle <empty hours>

b :  having no purpose or result :  useless

5

:  marked by the absence of human life, activity, or comfort <an empty silence>

— emp·ti·ly \-tə-lē\ adverb

— emp·ti·ness \-tē-nəs\ noun

Examples of EMPTY

1. The arena was completely empty.
2. She felt trapped in an empty marriage.
3. unhappy people leading empty lives

Origin of EMPTY

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: before 12th century

Related to EMPTY

Synonyms

bare, blank, clean, devoid, stark, toom [chiefly Scottish], vacant, vacuous, void

Antonyms

full

Related Words

barren, hollow; available, clear, free, open; unfilled, unfurnished; unattended, uninhabited, unoccupied; abandoned, deserted, emptied, forsaken, vacated; depleted, drained, dry, exhausted

Near Antonyms

complete; replete; furnished, provided, supplied; filled, occupied; flush, overflowing, packed, teeming

Synonym Discussion of EMPTY

empty, vacant, blank, void, vacuous mean lacking contents which could or should be present. empty suggests a complete absence of contents <an empty bucket>. vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants <a vacant apartment>. blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface <a blank wall>. void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine <a statement void of meaning>. vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance <a vacuous facial expression>.

²empty

verb

: to remove the contents of (something) : to make (something) empty

: to remove all of (something) from a container

: to become empty

emp·tiedemp·ty·ing

Full Definition of EMPTY

transitive verb

1

a :  to make empty :  remove the contents of <empty a purse>

b :  deprive, divest <a phrase emptied of all meaning>

c :  to discharge (itself) of contents

d :  to fire (a repeating firearm) until empty

2

:  to remove from what holds or encloses

intransitive verb

1

:  to become empty <the theater emptied quickly>

2

:  to discharge contents <the river empties into the ocean>

Examples of EMPTY

1. She emptied the contents of her purse onto the table.
2. It's your turn to empty the trash.

First Known Use of EMPTY

1548

Related to EMPTY

Synonyms

clear, evacuate, vacate, void

Antonyms

fill, load

Related Words

deplete, drain, eliminate, exhaust, waste; bleed, draw (off); clean, flush, purge, scour, sweep

³empty

noun

: an empty bottle or can

plural emp·ties

Full Definition of EMPTY

:  something (as a bottle or can) that is empty

First Known Use of EMPTY

1865