as in clearing
to remove the contents of
empty the room before starting to paint the ceiling
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Recent Examples of emptying
This limit determines how much material can fall to a body like a star or black hole before the radiation generated by that accretion pushes further matter away, emptying the central object's larder of gas and dust, thus cutting off its food supply.
—
Robert Lea, Space.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The Heat then went with a bench rotation of Jaquez, Ware, Fontecchio and Kasparas Jakucionis against the Warriors before emptying the bench late in the lopsided defeat.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
The franchise staple stared around an emptying room, only rising as manager John Schneider approached.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
His friend began emptying his pockets, but Spence just stood there.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
Because these medications slow down gastric emptying (the speed at which food leaves your stomach), constipation is a very common side effect.
—Lauren Manaker, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
Begin by emptying all pockets of the jacket and turning it inside out.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 Jan. 2026
An ex-trader explained that if bettors exhibited potential signs of compulsive gambling, such as frenetically emptying and refilling their account balance, the trader would check if RG wanted to reach out to make sure the customer was OK.
—Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Its first season’s defining set piece plunged the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center’s emergency department into the aftermath of a mass shooting, an act of narrative escalation that felt like the writers’ room emptying its reserves.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2026
Robert Lea, Space.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The Heat then went with a bench rotation of Jaquez, Ware, Fontecchio and Kasparas Jakucionis against the Warriors before emptying the bench late in the lopsided defeat.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
The franchise staple stared around an emptying room, only rising as manager John Schneider approached.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
His friend began emptying his pockets, but Spence just stood there.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
Because these medications slow down gastric emptying (the speed at which food leaves your stomach), constipation is a very common side effect.
—Lauren Manaker, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
Begin by emptying all pockets of the jacket and turning it inside out.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 Jan. 2026
An ex-trader explained that if bettors exhibited potential signs of compulsive gambling, such as frenetically emptying and refilling their account balance, the trader would check if RG wanted to reach out to make sure the customer was OK.
—Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Its first season’s defining set piece plunged the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center’s emergency department into the aftermath of a mass shooting, an act of narrative escalation that felt like the writers’ room emptying its reserves.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emptying
Verb
-
That wasn't the only basketball brawl in Kentucky this week, as a high school game had fisticuffs and benches clearing.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Is clearing snow off the windshield enough?—
Terry Baddoo,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Before Maduro was captured, AP reported Russia had started evacuating families of diplomats from Venezuela.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
-
At a recent event providing health services to those affected, MusiCares says many participants shared stories of evacuating with only a few minutes notice, forcing some to leave behind their means of livelihood – instruments and studios, some of which the organization has helped to replace.—
Andrew Flanagan,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Each unit’s weekly cleaning regimen includes completely emptying the waste with the vacuum truck’s suction wand, adding deodorizer that breaks down future waste and mitigates bad smells, scrubbing and disinfecting every surface inside the unit, and restocking paper goods.—
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Mickey Todiwala,
CNBC,
24 Jan. 2026
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But not before Freddy applies an earlier safety lesson about harmful chemical cleaning products to subdue the suddenly menacing unicorn.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Use a loose, fast-draining potting mix that pairs nutritious soil with big pieces of orchid bark, pumice, or perlite.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Balsam fir is native to moist woods and prefers well-draining, acidic soil over dense, clay soil.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Christy Kirkland, a 25-year veteran of Polk County school district, said a pay bump is not enough to prevent teachers from vacating their jobs.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The triumphant revival of Eats at Wild Heaven Beer’s West End taproom was announced this week, but the move was predicated on El Tesoro, another beloved casual restaurant, vacating the space.—
Henri Hollis,
AJC.com,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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It was last renovated in the 1990s by Andrés Balazs, who gave it a more contemporary feel without eliminating old-school charms.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Jan. 2026
-
By eliminating heavy abrasion, jeans are less lightly to breakdown prematurely.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Emptying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emptying. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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