empty
HighNeutral (used across all registers)
Definition
Meaning
Containing nothing; having no people, objects, or contents inside.
Lacking meaning, substance, or value; producing no effect; void of emotion or expression.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can describe both physical absence (an empty room) and abstract lack (empty promises, empty words). Can carry a neutral or negative connotation depending on context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical differences. 'Empty out' as a phrasal verb is slightly more common in American English.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. Negative connotations (e.g., 'empty lifestyle', 'empty threat') are equally strong.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SVO]: He emptied the bin.[SVOA]: She emptied the water into the sink.[SV]: The stadium emptied quickly.[SVC-A]: The street was empty.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Empty vessels make the most noise.”
- “Running on empty.”
- “An empty nest.”
- “Empty suit (slang).”
- “Come away empty-handed.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to unused capacity, e.g., 'empty production slots', 'empty retail units'.
Academic
Used in abstract senses, e.g., 'empty formalism', 'empty of statistical significance'.
Everyday
Common for describing containers, rooms, feelings, e.g., 'The fridge is empty.'
Technical
In computing: 'empty string', 'empty set (∅)'. In logistics: 'empty load', 'empty running'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Could you empty the dishwasher, please?
- The cinema emptied rapidly after the fire alarm.
American English
- He emptied his pockets onto the counter.
- We need to empty out the garage this weekend.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used. Example:) He stared emptily out of the window.
American English
- (Rarely used. Example:) The room echoed emptily.
adjective
British English
- The car park was completely empty.
- She felt an empty sense of achievement.
American English
- The gas tank is almost empty.
- His apology seemed empty and insincere.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bottle is empty.
- My bag is empty.
- The classroom was empty after school.
- I woke up with an empty feeling.
- The bus was almost empty during the day.
- Please empty the bin when it's full.
- His threats proved to be empty; he never followed through.
- After the children left home, they experienced empty nest syndrome.
- The report was criticised for being full of empty rhetoric.
- The algorithm returns an empty set if no matches are found.
- Her victory felt curiously empty, devoid of the expected joy.
- The philosopher argued that the universe is essentially empty of intrinsic meaning.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an 'MTP' folder you just created – it's initially EMPTy.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMPTY IS LACK (of substance, value, emotion). LIFE IS A CONTAINER (an empty life).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation for abstract uses. Russian 'пустой' for a person ('пустой человек') is much stronger and ruder than 'empty' in English.
- In Russian, 'пустой' can mean 'idle' or 'frivolous' (пустой разговор), while 'empty talk' in English specifically means talk without substance.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'empty' instead of 'free' (e.g., 'Is this seat empty?' vs 'Is this seat free?').
- Incorrect verb pattern: 'I emptied out the trash' (redundant) vs 'I emptied the trash'.
- Overusing 'empty' for abstract nouns where 'vacuous', 'meaningless', or 'hollow' is better.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'empty' used in a primarily technical sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is very rare as an adverb. It is grammatically correct (e.g., 'He smiled emptily') but 'in an empty way' or similar phrasing is more common.
'Empty' means containing nothing. 'Vacant' typically refers to a place or position not currently occupied (a vacant room, a vacant job). 'Blank' refers to a surface with nothing on it, ready for writing (a blank page) or a lack of expression (a blank look).
Very rarely in a non-standard way (e.g., 'the empty of the night'). It is not a standard countable noun. The standard noun is 'emptiness'.
Yes, especially in more formal or literary contexts to indicate a specific lack. E.g., 'a statement empty of truth', 'a life empty of purpose'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Basic Adjectives
A1 · 46 words · Fundamental describing words used every day.