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 masked suspect who fatally shot a beloved barber while trying to steal his handmade Miami Cuban bracelet outside a Queens strip club ran off empty-handed, but left those who knew the victim with an unfathomable hole in their hearts. — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026

Getting cash should never be the reason someone walks out empty-handed. — Elie Y. Katz, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026

But life gets in the way, and people get stuck at the store empty-handed. — ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026

Despite the show having gone home empty-handed, Cox found a silver lining. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 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