empt
A2Common in all registers: formal, informal, spoken, written.
Definition
Meaning
Containing nothing; having no people or things inside.
Lacking meaning, substance, value, or purpose; devoid of emotional content or sincerity.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can describe both physical objects (e.g., an empty box) and abstract concepts (e.g., empty promises, empty life). The adjective form is primary; verb and noun uses are derived.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Spelling and pronunciation differences are consistent with general UK/US patterns (e.g., 't' in British IPA is clearer). The verb 'to empty' is used identically.
Connotations
Identical connotations of vacuity, lack, or worthlessness.
Frequency
Equal high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
empty (something) outempty into/ontoempty of somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “running on empty”
- “empty nest”
- “empty suit”
- “empty vessels make the most sound”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The position remained empty for months." (vacant job)
Academic
"The argument was empirically empty." (lacking evidence)
Everyday
"Could you empty the bins, please?"
Technical
"The queue is empty." (computing/data structures)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He emptied the ashtray into the bin.
- The stadium emptied quickly after the match.
American English
- She emptied her glass in one gulp.
- The lake empties into the Columbia River.
adjective
British English
- The car park was utterly empty.
- It's just empty rhetoric.
American English
- I woke up with an empty feeling.
- The gas tank is almost empty.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The box is empty.
- My cup is empty. Can I have more juice?
- The room was empty.
- He made an empty promise he couldn't keep.
- I felt empty after the argument.
- Don't forget to empty the dishwasher.
- The threat of sanctions turned out to be empty.
- Her life felt empty and without direction.
- The algorithm processes the data until the buffer is empty.
- The critique, while elegantly phrased, was essentially empty of constructive solutions.
- He delivered the grandiose speech in an empty, perfunctory tone.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MT' in the middle as 'MounTain' – a mountain that's empty inside is just a hollow shell.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMPTY IS LACK (OF SUBSTANCE/VALUE/PURPOSE).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing 'empty' (пустой) with 'free' (свободный) for non-physical contexts (e.g., 'free time' not 'empty time').
- Note: 'empty stomach' is a fixed phrase, not translated literally as 'пустой желудок' in all contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'empty' as a noun (incorrect: 'an empty'; correct: 'an empty one/space/room').
- Confusing 'empty' (containing nothing) with 'blank' (unmarked, e.g., blank page).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase uses 'empty' metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'empt' is not a standard English word. The correct forms are 'empty' (adjective/verb) and 'emptiness' (noun). 'Empt' may be a common misspelling or abbreviation.
'Empty' means containing nothing. 'Vacant' specifically means not occupied by people (a vacant room, vacant position). 'Blank' means unmarked or without features (a blank page, blank expression).
Yes, 'to empty' means to remove the contents of something (e.g., 'empty the bag') or to become empty (e.g., 'the theatre emptied').
Both are grammatically correct. The choice is idiomatic and often reflects an optimistic ('half-full') or pessimistic ('half-empty') outlook, not a linguistic rule.