empty

1 of 3

adjective

emp·​ty ˈem(p)-tē How to pronounce empty (audio)
emptier; emptiest
1
a
: containing nothing
empty shelves
b
: not occupied or inhabited
an empty building
d
: not pregnant
empty heifer
e
: null sense 4a
the empty set
2
a
: lacking reality, substance, meaning, or value : hollow
an empty pleasure
b
: destitute of effect or force
an empty threat
c
: devoid of sense : foolish
3
: hungry
4
a
: idle
empty hours
b
: having no purpose or result : useless
5
: marked by the absence of human life, activity, or comfort
an empty silence
emptily adverb
emptiness noun

empty

2 of 3

verb

emptied; emptying

transitive verb

1
a
: to make empty : remove the contents of
empty a purse
b
: deprive, divest
a phrase emptied of all meaning
c
: to discharge (itself) of contents
d
: to fire (a repeating firearm) until empty
2
: to remove from what holds or encloses

intransitive verb

1
: to become empty
the theater emptied quickly
2
: to discharge contents
the river empties into the ocean

empty

3 of 3

noun

plural empties
: something (such as a bottle or can) that is empty
Choose the Right Synonym for empty

empty, vacant, blank, void, vacuous mean lacking contents which could or should be present.

empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.

a statement void of meaning

vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.

a vacuous facial expression

synonyms see in addition vain

Examples of empty in a Sentence

Adjective The arena was completely empty. She felt trapped in an empty marriage. unhappy people leading empty lives Verb She emptied the contents of her purse onto the table. It's your turn to empty the trash.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Its National Assembly has been empty since the last lawmakers’ terms expired last year. John Hudson, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 Timberlake welcomed the vintage goodwill, posting a photo of five empty stools onstage at the Wiltern after the show. August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Investigators who searched the home after the shooting found an empty gun case and an empty box of ammunition sitting on the parents’ bed, according to photos of the search. Eric Levenson, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 On one occasion the Nio moved from the outside of a highway into the middle lane, and seemed to be getting very close to a container truck with an empty trailer, leading me to question whether the system was actually sensing the trailer part or not. Mark Andrews, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2024 Grieving the loss of a niece or coming to terms with the realities of being a single parent are both real-life examples of times cups are likely empty. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 13 Mar. 2024 Half empty: Seidler is not here to continue pushing the envelope on winning. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 The good enough method: Put nuts in a glass container, ideally one with as little empty space as possible. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 12 Mar. 2024 Positioned on the left side of the reels are 4 jackpot trails resembling empty potion bottles. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024
Verb
In a near-abstract downtown emptied out by the pandemic, Bay executed his most liberated piece of Bayhem, a post-bank-heist chase movie that doubles down on its own heightened sense of ridiculous at every turn. Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Omar made quick work of checking his pockets, emptying his wallet. Jared Lemus, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2024 Descriptions of the mechanics of emptying a truck or unpacking a box are detailed but simple, as if optimized for the reader’s understanding. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2024 The Bureau of Reclamation started work on its emergency amendment to shortage-sharing guidelines when Lake Mead and Lake Powell were emptying at an alarming rate after two decades of drought. Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2024 Exploring the wonderful natural beauty of Iceland doesn't have to mean emptying your wallet. David Nikel, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Copilot will also be able to show available Wi-Fi networks, storage space, and even empty your recycling bin. Tom Warren, The Verge, 29 Feb. 2024 His former state was an 18-year-old who emptied a gun into a 14-year-old friend of his, then reloaded and fired again after a fight over a video game. Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2024 Visitors are greeted by steps that travel past a water feature before emptying out at the front door. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2024
Noun
While this vacuum is corded, the 15-foot cord reaches an entire room easily, and the 0.71-quart cup empties with the push of a button—there’s no bag to deal with. Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024 Glamour is gone as the reality of LA’s storm hits like a cold windy slap as Crypto empties out. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Feb. 2024 So get your clicking hands warmed up, toss out the shampoo empties on the edge of the tub, and keep reading to learn more about these rare discounts. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 24 Nov. 2023 Although plenty of tourists visit the memorial and the museum by day, the financial district empties out at night; it’s hardly known as an arts destination. Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2024 The boys stack cups and bowls and make fountains — and the water empties out to one of the series of swales Lefkowits constructed throughout the yard. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2024 This specific model features a high-speed motor with powerful suction, a dust cup that empties at the press of a button, and two brush heads to capture more debris. Bridget Degnan, Peoplemag, 1 Dec. 2023 As the end of each month approaches and her pill bottle empties, her anxiety spikes. Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2024 The finish is warm and lingering, with notes of citrus, spice, coconut, and some rock candy on final sips as your glass empties. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'empty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English ǣmettig unoccupied, from ǣmetta leisure, perhaps from ǣ- without + -metta (probably akin to mōtan to have to) — more at must

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1844, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of empty was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near empty

Cite this Entry

“Empty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empty. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

empty

1 of 3 adjective
emp·​ty ˈem(p)-tē How to pronounce empty (audio)
emptier; emptiest
1
: containing nothing
an empty box
2
: not being lived in
an empty house
3
: having no reality or importance
empty dreams
4
: lacking in value, sense, effect, or sincerity
empty threats
5
: hungry sense 1
feel empty before dinner
6
: having no members
empty set
emptily adverb
emptiness noun

empty

2 of 3 verb
emptied; emptying
1
: to make empty : remove the contents of
empty a barrel
2
: to remove all of from a container
empty flour from a bag
3
: to become empty
the theater emptied quickly
4
: to give forth contents (as fluid) : discharge
the river empties into the ocean

empty

3 of 3 noun
plural empties
: an empty container

More from Merriam-Webster on empty

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