empty

1 of 3

adjective

emp·​ty ˈem(p)-tē 

emptier; emptiest

1

a

: containing nothing

empty shelves

b

: not occupied or inhabited

an empty building

c

: unfrequented

d

: not pregnant

empty heifer

e

: null sense 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

emptily

ˈem(p)-tə-lē 

adverb

emptiness

ˈem(p)-tē-nəs 

noun

empty

2 of 3

verb

emptied; emptying

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

empty

3 of 3

noun

plural empties

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

Synonyms

Adjective

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

Verb

• clear
• evacuate
• vacate
• void

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

synonyms see in addition vain

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

Adjective

In recent years, K Street has stood out more for its empty storefronts and large number of homeless people than as a vibrant center for activity. —Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 8 May 2025

Consumers have faced empty supermarket shelves and a nearly 90% surge in prices. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 8 May 2025

Verb

The Jets emptied their net and watched as the seconds ticked off the clock in the offensive zone, just hoping for a shot on net to give them a chance at the 3-3 tie and the game in overtime. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 May 2025

By Tuesday morning, Mr. Poilievre’s campaign office, on the top floor of a building with signs for a church and a martial arts school in downtown Manotick, had largely been emptied. —Ian Austen, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025

Noun

Empty container returns would be restricted, Seko says, echoing prior encouragements from Maersk to return all empties before the negotiation deadline. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019

This is where the creek empties, where the speck spook in the eelgrass. —Kristin L. Wolfe, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025

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

Phrases Containing empty

• come up empty
• empty calories
• empty-handed
• empty-headed
• empty into
• empty nester
• empty-nest syndrome
• empty of
• empty one's pockets
• empty suit
• empty threat
• non-empty
• on an empty stomach

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

emptily

-tə-lē 

adverb

emptiness

-tē-nəs 

noun

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