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 Yogi restaurant and bar in Porto Tolle on the Po Delta is an exception, having fully embraced the blue crab out of passion and necessity — finding themselves empty-handed after the invasion. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026

The city still fared better than the rest of the region, including Arizona, where its office of tourism spent $200,000 to lure Michelin to the state, according to the Phoenix New Times, but came up empty-handed. — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2026

They would have been averted if the two sides reached a trade deal, but Canada's negotiators left Washington empty-handed on Friday evening. — Kevin Breuninger,michael Wayland, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026

But mostly the fans at shows reach out empty-handed—no cellphones, hardly any cameras. — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 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