empty
1 of 3adjective
emp·ty ˈem(p)-tē 
emptier; emptiest
1
a
: containing nothing
empty shelves
b
: not occupied or inhabited
an empty building
c
: unfrequented
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
ˈem(p)-tə-lē
adverb emptiness
ˈem(p)-tē-nəs
noun empty
2 of 3verb
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 3noun
plural empties
: something (such as a bottle or can) that is empty
Synonyms
Adjective
- bare
- blank
- clean
- devoid
- stark
- toom [chiefly Scottish]
- vacant
- vacuous
- void
Verb
- clear
- evacuate
- vacate
- void
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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
Devlin Barrett And Perry Stein, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Sep. 2022 An expansive eight-room ranch on a corner lot in the heart of the Hartford Golf Club neighborhood is move-in ready and perfect for a large family or empty nesters. Karen A. Avitabile, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2022 The race to sell Super Bowl commercials, typically some of the most expensive in TV, can be twisty and onerous, with some ad berths left empty just days before kickoff. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 Sep. 2022 The Justice Department did not address what was in the empty folders. Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 3 Sep. 2022 Another five empty folders with classified banners were found in the storage room, according to the list. Sadie Gurman, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 And the empty folders raise the question of whether the government has recovered all of the classified papers that Trump kept after leaving the White House. Eric Tucker, ajc, 2 Sep. 2022 From women in their 30s who are tired of waiting on friends to women in their 60s who have retired and are empty nesters. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 25 Aug. 2022 After sending their youngest, Joaquin, off to college, the pair officially became empty nesters. Courtney Young, Peoplemag, 22 Aug. 2022 Georgi Kantchev, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 Once inside, both were hit on the back of the head with a gun and told to empty their pockets. Meredith Colias-pete, chicagotribune.com, 4 Apr. 2022 Instead, the i6+ will automatically empty its dust bin into inside the dock, and when it's filled, a suction feature located at the bottom will go into a self-sealing bag, too. Kelley Macdonald, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2021 Misoprostol causes bleeding and cramps, which empty the uterus of the pregnancy. Colleen De Bellefonds, SELF, 24 Aug. 2022 Consumers should immediately stop using the ice makers, empty the ice bucket and contact Electrolux to schedule a technician to replace the ice maker with one that has a polypropylene ice level detector, free of charge. Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, 4 June 2022 If the water splashes or it doesn’t work on your first try, empty the dish, erase the drawing with a paper towel, dry off the dish, and try again. Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, 1 June 2022 Misoprostol causes cramping and bleeding to empty the uterus. Daniella Silva, NBC News, 3 Aug. 2022 At Tinker’s drop-off hub, neighbors walking their dogs or going out for a coffee or meal can just stop by and empty their buckets. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2022 Arkansas Online, 6 June 2022 Kevin Shattenkirk and Vinni Lettieri had a goal and an assist apiece, and Nicolas Deslauriers added a short-handed empty-netter for the Ducks with 7:37 to play. orlandosentinel.com, 22 Jan. 2022 The entire region is a buyer’s market, burdened by other big empties. At A Great Price, ProPublica, 18 May 2020 The horses are saddled in the paddock in two shifts, and at least one stall is kept empty between horses. Joe Drape, New York Times, 12 May 2020 Coronavirus empties pediatrician offices in Michigan, decreases vaccinations As COVID-19 continues to churn through southeast Michigan and elsewhere, wary parents are avoiding health care settings. Amy Huschka, Detroit Free Press, 28 Apr. 2020 More than Christmas or New Year’s Day, more than Easter week, when the city empties out. Sylvia Poggioli, The New York Review of Books, 29 Mar. 2020 Heiskanen’s goal came with the Stars’ net empty and was his first since Dec. 3, a stretch of 33 games. Matthew Defranks, Dallas News, 28 Feb. 2020 Days, even weeks, in a tent or a bivouac, the hours empty of all but numbing chores and the howling of the wind. Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2020 See More
Adjective
There were also dozens of empty folders marked classified, according to a government inventory filed in court, and documents marked confidential, secret and top-secret. Devlin Barrett And Perry Stein, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Sep. 2022 An expansive eight-room ranch on a corner lot in the heart of the Hartford Golf Club neighborhood is move-in ready and perfect for a large family or empty nesters. Karen A. Avitabile, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2022 The race to sell Super Bowl commercials, typically some of the most expensive in TV, can be twisty and onerous, with some ad berths left empty just days before kickoff. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 Sep. 2022 The Justice Department did not address what was in the empty folders. Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 3 Sep. 2022 Another five empty folders with classified banners were found in the storage room, according to the list. Sadie Gurman, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 And the empty folders raise the question of whether the government has recovered all of the classified papers that Trump kept after leaving the White House. Eric Tucker, ajc, 2 Sep. 2022 From women in their 30s who are tired of waiting on friends to women in their 60s who have retired and are empty nesters. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 25 Aug. 2022 After sending their youngest, Joaquin, off to college, the pair officially became empty nesters. Courtney Young, Peoplemag, 22 Aug. 2022 Verb
If Moscow cuts supplies further, Europe could struggle to fill its gas reserves or will empty them faster than in past winters, weakening an economy already grappling with surging inflation. Georgi Kantchev, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 Once inside, both were hit on the back of the head with a gun and told to empty their pockets. Meredith Colias-pete, chicagotribune.com, 4 Apr. 2022 Instead, the i6+ will automatically empty its dust bin into inside the dock, and when it's filled, a suction feature located at the bottom will go into a self-sealing bag, too. Kelley Macdonald, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2021 Misoprostol causes bleeding and cramps, which empty the uterus of the pregnancy. Colleen De Bellefonds, SELF, 24 Aug. 2022 Consumers should immediately stop using the ice makers, empty the ice bucket and contact Electrolux to schedule a technician to replace the ice maker with one that has a polypropylene ice level detector, free of charge. Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, 4 June 2022 If the water splashes or it doesn’t work on your first try, empty the dish, erase the drawing with a paper towel, dry off the dish, and try again. Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, 1 June 2022 Misoprostol causes cramping and bleeding to empty the uterus. Daniella Silva, NBC News, 3 Aug. 2022 At Tinker’s drop-off hub, neighbors walking their dogs or going out for a coffee or meal can just stop by and empty their buckets. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2022 Noun
The change resulted from an intersection of migration with births and deaths, since the county draws retirees and empty-nesters, while young adults who want to have children move elsewhere, mostly for better schools, Smith said. Arkansas Online, 6 June 2022 Kevin Shattenkirk and Vinni Lettieri had a goal and an assist apiece, and Nicolas Deslauriers added a short-handed empty-netter for the Ducks with 7:37 to play. orlandosentinel.com, 22 Jan. 2022 The entire region is a buyer’s market, burdened by other big empties. At A Great Price, ProPublica, 18 May 2020 The horses are saddled in the paddock in two shifts, and at least one stall is kept empty between horses. Joe Drape, New York Times, 12 May 2020 Coronavirus empties pediatrician offices in Michigan, decreases vaccinations As COVID-19 continues to churn through southeast Michigan and elsewhere, wary parents are avoiding health care settings. Amy Huschka, Detroit Free Press, 28 Apr. 2020 More than Christmas or New Year’s Day, more than Easter week, when the city empties out. Sylvia Poggioli, The New York Review of Books, 29 Mar. 2020 Heiskanen’s goal came with the Stars’ net empty and was his first since Dec. 3, a stretch of 33 games. Matthew Defranks, Dallas News, 28 Feb. 2020 Days, even weeks, in a tent or a bivouac, the hours empty of all but numbing chores and the howling of the wind. Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2020 See More 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
Phrases Containing empty
Kids Definition
empty 1 of 2
adjective
emp·ty ˈemp-tē
emptier; emptiest
1
: containing nothing
an empty box
2
: not occupied or lived in : vacant
an empty house
an empty seat
3
: not sincere or meaningful
an empty threat
empty
2 of 2verb
emptied; emptying
1
: to remove the contents of
Please empty the wastebasket.
2
: to remove all of (something) from a container
Empty the flour into the bin.
3
: to become unoccupied
The school quickly emptied.
4
: to flow into
The river empties into the gulf.
empty 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in devoid
lacking contents that could or should be present the refrigerator is empty, so we'll have to eat out Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- devoid
- emptied
- barren
- vacant
- blank
- void
- drained
- vacuous
- clean
- hollow
- bare
- deserted
- open
- unfilled
- stark
- unoccupied
- uninhabited
- toom
- depleted
- abandoned
- dry
- available
- clear
- unattended
- exhausted
- vacated
- free
- forsaken
- unfurnished
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- full
- complete
- filled
- occupied
- replete
- provided
- overflowing
- furnished
- supplied
- packed
- flush
- teeming
2
as in hungry
feeling a desire or need for food as the long car trip wore on, we all started to feel a little empty Synonyms & Similar Words
- hungry
- starving
- starved
- famished
- ravenous
- undernourished
- peckish
- malnourished
- underfed
- insatiable
- gluttonous
- hoggish
- piggy
- wolfish
- gormandizing
- greedy
- piggish
- voracious
- rapacious
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- full
- satisfied
- sated
- satiated
- overstuffed
- overfull
- stuffed
- glutted
- overfed
- replete
- engorged
- gorged
- satiate
- surfeited
3
as in meaningless
having no meaning spare me your empty apologies because if you were truly sorry, you'd change Synonyms & Similar Words
- meaningless
- pointless
- stupid
- silly
- absurd
- inane
- foolish
- irrational
- senseless
- unimportant
- unreasonable
- little
- trivial
- frivolous
- slight
- insignificant
- insane
- aimless
- fatuous
- inconsequential
- negligible
- purposeless
- nonsensical
- inconsiderable
- loony
- unintelligent
- empty-headed
- daft
- mindless
- trifling
- zany
- haphazard
- mad
- unwise
- asinine
- brainless
- minor
- witless
- lunatic
- sappy
- dotty
- wacky
- whacky
- cuckoo
- kooky
- nutty
- looney
- crazy
- simpleminded
- daffy
- preposterous
- jerky
- balmy
- crackpot
- tomfool
- kookie
- harebrained
- half-witted
- weak-minded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- meaningful
- significant
- valid
- logical
- expressive
- pregnant
- reasonable
- eloquent
- important
- suggestive
- key
- rational
- substantial
- revealing
- major
- telling
- weighty
- eventful
- momentous
- consequential
4
as in worthless
having no usefulness an empty task that was assigned just to keep us busy Synonyms & Similar Words
- worthless
- valueless
- null
- cheap
- junky
- vain
- flawed
- chaffy
- inadequate
- insufficient
- defective
- bad
- imperfect
- unsatisfactory
- unacceptable
- base
- no-good
- dud
- lousy
- inferior
- substandard
- cheapjack
- duff
- deficient
- second-rate
- low-grade
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- valuable
- useful
- worthy
- precious
- invaluable
- priceless
- treasured
- cherished
- fancy
- prized
- special
- esteemed
- choice
- exceptional
- high-grade
5
as in unsuccessful
producing no results all of the leads in the missing-person case were turning up empty Synonyms & Similar Words
- unsuccessful
- useless
- futile
- in vain
- worthless
- unprofitable
- hollow
- unproductive
- ineffective
- barren
- ineffectual
- insufficient
- fruitless
- unavailing
- lost
- profitless
- vain
- meaningless
- impossible
- inadequate
- abortive
- valueless
- no dice
- pointless
- not worth the candle
- idle
- inefficacious
- bootless
- of no avail
- otiose
- lacking
- hopeless
- unattainable
- counterproductive
- wanting
- no-win
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- efficient
- successful
- effective
- profitable
- productive
- fruitful
- adequate
- deadly
- meaningful
- virtuous
- sufficient
- potent
- worthwhile
- practical
- functional
- efficacious
- usable
- effectual
- feasible
- workable
- applicable
- useable
- practicable
- realizable
6
as in blank
not expressing any emotion the speaker looked out at a crowd of empty faces Synonyms & Similar Words
- blank
- vacant
- motionless
- inexpressive
- dull
- expressionless
- impassive
- catatonic
- numb
- vacuous
- vague
- enigmatic
- stolid
- enigmatical
- vapid
- deadpan
- detached
- restrained
- reserved
- static
- wooden
- mysterious
- still
- cold
- inscrutable
- impenetrable
- cool
- unresponsive
- apathetic
- taciturn
- indifferent
- aloof
- phlegmatic
- reticent
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- active
- busy
- expansive
- expressive
- bright
- dynamic
- engaged
- interested
- alive
- demonstrative
- exuberant
- energetic
- effervescent
- responsive
- lively
- animated
- vivacious
- eloquent
- revealing
- unreserved
- revelatory
- emotional
- unrestrained
- melodramatic
- gestic
- theatrical
- gestural
- gesticulative
- gesticulatory
- gesticulant
- theatric
empty
2 of 2verb
as in to void
to remove the contents of empty the room before starting to paint the ceiling Synonyms & Similar Words
- void
- clear
- evacuate
- clean
- drain
- vacate
- purge
- waste
- flush
- sweep
- eliminate
- deplete
- exhaust
- bleed
- scour
- draw (off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fill
- load
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of empty are blank, vacant, vacuous, and void. While all these words mean "lacking contents which could or should be present," empty suggests a complete absence of contents.
an empty bucket
While in some cases nearly identical to empty, blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.
a blank wall
The words vacant and empty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.
a vacant apartment
Although the words vacuous and empty have much in common, vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.
a vacuous facial expression
The meanings of void and empty largely overlap; however, void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.
a statement void of meaning