comes up empty

phrase

present tense third-person singular of come up empty

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for comes up empty
falls short
Phrase
  • But development partners for the women’s soccer team say the private group — not the city — would be on the hook if expected tax revenue falls short of paying off the bond.
    Dylan Lysen June 30, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026
  • While there may be demand in other countries for its chips, China's production capacity for advanced chips still falls short of demand at home.
    ABC News, ABC News, 29 June 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Comes up empty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comes%20up%20empty. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster