empty-handed

adjective

emp·​ty-hand·​ed ˌem(p)-tē-ˈhan-dəd How to pronounce empty-handed (audio)
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
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.
However, Democrats walked away from the meeting empty-handed. Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 30 Sep. 2025 But after bringing the game to within three points in the third quarter, the Bulldogs had a number of opportunities to put points on the board but left empty-handed, coming up just short of a pulling off the comeback victory. Hunter Simpson, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025 As the son of Hades relentlessly striving to escape from the underworld, failure sends players back to the start; but never empty-handed. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025 Each winning member of the six-man team makes £250,000 in prize money, but the losers don’t go home empty-handed as there is an appearance fee for all based on ranking positions after Roland Garros. Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for empty-handed

Word History

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of empty-handed was in 1549

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Cite this Entry

“Empty-handed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empty-handed. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on empty-handed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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