empty

/'empti/

Definition

Adjective:
- Containing nothing; not filled or occupied: The primary meaning, describing a space or container that has no contents.
- Without purpose, value, or substance; meaningless: Describing words, actions, or gestures that lack sincerity, significance, or genuine content.
- Having no real effect or force; hollow: Describing a victory, threat, or promise that is not substantial.
- Feeling devoid of emotion or satisfaction: Describing a person's emotional state after an intense experience.
- Hungry: (Informal) Describing the physical sensation of an empty stomach.
Noun:
- A container, such as a bottle or can, that is no longer full: Used especially in commercial or recycling contexts.
Verb:
- To remove all the contents from something; to make empty: The action of taking everything out of a container or space.
- To become empty: The process by which a place or container loses its contents.
- To pour out or discharge contents; to flow out: Describing the movement of a liquid from one place to another.
- To vacate; to leave a place, making it empty: The action of people leaving a building or area.

Examples

Adjective:
- The room was completely empty. (The room had no people or furniture in it.)
- His apology felt empty and insincere. (The apology seemed to lack genuine feeling.)
- After the party, I felt strangely empty. (I felt a lack of emotion or satisfaction.)
- I'm empty; let's get some lunch. (I am hungry.)
Noun:
- Please put the soda empties in the recycling bin. (Put the empty soda cans/bottles in the recycling.)
Verb:
- She emptied her purse onto the table. (She took everything out of her purse.)
- The theater emptied quickly after the show. (The theater became empty as people left.)
- The river empties into the ocean. (The river flows out into the ocean.)
- We must empty the office by Friday. (We must vacate the office, leaving it empty.)

Advanced Usage

"to run on empty": to continue doing something despite having no energy, resources, or motivation left.
- After working three shifts, I'm running on empty.
"an empty gesture": an action that is meant to look meaningful but has no real effect or sincerity.
- Offering help now is just an empty gesture; the damage is already done.

Variants and Related Words

Emptiness (n): The state of being empty.
- The emptiness of the desert was overwhelming.
Empty-handed (adj): Having gotten or brought nothing.
- He returned from the hunt empty-handed. (This is a compound word listed as a variant, not as a primary definition of "empty".)

Synonyms

Related Phrasal Verbs

Empty out: to remove all the contents from something.
- He emptied out his pockets to find the key.

Related Idioms

Nature abhors a vacuum: This proverb suggests that an empty space will not remain empty for long, as something will always fill it. It relates to the state of being empty.
- When the manager left, three people applied for the job immediately—nature abhors a vacuum.

Adjective

emptied of emotion
- after the violent argument he felt empty
needing nourishment
- after skipped lunch the men were empty by suppertime
- empty-bellied children
devoid of significance or point
- empty promises
- a hollow victory
- vacuous comments
holding or containing nothing
- an empty glass
- an empty room
- full of empty seats
- empty hours

Noun

Verb

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