Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

empty-handed

adjective emp·ty-hand·ed \ ˌem(p)-tē-ˈhan-dəd \
See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words

Definition of empty-handed

1 : having or bringing nothing
2 : having acquired or gained nothing
  • came back empty-handed

See empty-handed defined for English-language learners

See empty-handed defined for kids

First Known Use of empty-handed

1549

EMPTY-HANDED Defined for English Language Learners

empty-handed

adjective

Definition of empty-handed for English Language Learners

  • : without having, carrying, or bringing anything

EMPTY-HANDED Defined for Kids

empty-handed

adjective emp·ty-hand·ed \ ˌemp-tē-ˈhan-dəd \

Definition of empty-handed for Students

1 : not carrying or bringing anything I can't show up at the party empty-handed.
2 : having gotten or gained nothing
  • He left the contest empty-handed.

Learn More about empty-handed

  1. See words that rhyme with empty-handed Spanish Central: Translation of empty-handed Nglish: Translation of empty-handed for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up empty-handed? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

bloviate

play

to speak or write verbosely and windily

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. lowlife 'a person of low moral character'

  2. kakistocracy 'government by the worst people'

  3. slimeball 'a morally repulsive or odious person'

  4. salacious 'arousing or appealing to sexual desire'

  5. oligarch 'government in which a small group exercises control'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

empty-handed

Test Your Vocabulary

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

  • image1926873504
  • Which of the following best describes an easily irritated person?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

image236659401
Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

When English borrows from another alphabet

alt-5ada140ed3e28
'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Why not both?

alt-5ad8fc71357ed
Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

No, it's not a coiffure trend

alt-5ad8d3361fb97
Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

You're on the edge of your seat

Ask the Editors

image1760257654
2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally
Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her
Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

image1926873504
Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz
cats-on-impossible-timber
More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz
True or False
True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Take the quiz
Word Winder's CrossWinder
Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

Play the game