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
The search turned up empty-handed, but that did not stop them.
—
Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
The writer — now a special correspondent for Vanity Fair — had done everything possible in 2007 to secure an interview with Bill Fox, including traveling to Cleveland, and came away empty-handed.
—Nate Rogers, Vulture, 22 May 2025
Magnolia walked away empty-handed, but lives on as some of the best work of Cruise and Anderson's respective careers.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 19 May 2025
Turkish officials attempted to seize data from ExpressVPN servers in 2019 and came away empty-handed.
—PC Magazine, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for empty-handed
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
The writer — now a special correspondent for Vanity Fair — had done everything possible in 2007 to secure an interview with Bill Fox, including traveling to Cleveland, and came away empty-handed.
—Nate Rogers, Vulture, 22 May 2025
Magnolia walked away empty-handed, but lives on as some of the best work of Cruise and Anderson's respective careers.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 19 May 2025
Turkish officials attempted to seize data from ExpressVPN servers in 2019 and came away empty-handed.
—PC Magazine, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for empty-handed
Cite this Entry
“Empty-handed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empty-handed. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share