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
Host Gifts One of the pillars of Southern hosting hospitality is to never show up to somebody’s house empty-handed.
—
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Tottenham finished the window empty-handed.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Josh Safdie and Timothée Chalamet’s Marty Supreme left this evening’s BAFTA Film Awards empty-handed after being shut out, following a healthy 11 nods at the nominations stage.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 22 Feb. 2026
American Mac Forehand took silver while Matej Svancer of Austria earned bronze and Ruud was left empty-handed at the event under sometimes heavy snow at the Livigno alpine resort.
—Reuters, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for empty-handed
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Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Tottenham finished the window empty-handed.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Josh Safdie and Timothée Chalamet’s Marty Supreme left this evening’s BAFTA Film Awards empty-handed after being shut out, following a healthy 11 nods at the nominations stage.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 22 Feb. 2026
American Mac Forehand took silver while Matej Svancer of Austria earned bronze and Ruud was left empty-handed at the event under sometimes heavy snow at the Livigno alpine resort.
—Reuters, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
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 7 Mar. 2026.
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