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

Elina Svitolina, in Tom Ford, scores a snack while Rybakina, Gauff, and Muchova come away empty-handed. — Corey Seymour, Vogue, 6 Nov. 2026

The UConn women’s basketball team may have come up empty in its game at Michigan Thursday night, but the Huskies did not return home empty-handed. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 6 Nov. 2026

Many guests didn’t leave empty-handed either, as designer gifts and cash prizes were raffled off. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2026

His coalition partners also ended up empty-handed in the ballot. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 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