empty-handed

adjective

emp·​ty-hand·​ed ˌem(p)-tē-ˈhan-dəd 

1

: having or bringing nothing

2

: having acquired or gained nothing

came back empty-handed

Examples of empty-handed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Both women sought the DFL endorsement at the party’s county convention in April but agreed to walk away empty-handed after the first ballot following a virtual tie. —Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 2 June 2026

Macklin Celebrini, Sam Dickinson and the rest of Team Canada are coming home from the IIHF World Championship in Switzerland empty-handed. —Mercury News, 31 May 2026

Greer left empty-handed, frustrated by the meeting’s failure to produce any concrete outcomes. —Inu Manak, Time, 27 May 2026

Taylor Swift walked away empty-handed at the American Music Awards after entering the night as the show's leading nominee with eight nods. —Bryan West, USA Today, 26 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for empty-handed

• countermanded
• evenhanded
• reprimanded
• underhanded
• backhanded
• commanded
• demanded
• disbanded
• expanded
• misbranded
• remanded
• unbranded

Kids Definition

empty-handed

adjective

emp·​ty-hand·​ed

ˌem(p)-tē-ˈhan-dəd

1

: having nothing in the hands

2

: having acquired or gained nothing

came back empty-handed