ENGLISH
REFERENCE

emptiness

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɛmptinəs// UK //ˈɛmptɪnəs// empti·ness

n. the state of containing nothing, or a feeling of sadness and lack of purpose. You might use it to describe a room with no furniture or a lonely heart.

n. the state of containing nothing; the quality of being vacant or unoccupied. Often used metaphorically to describe a lack of meaning, purpose, or emotional fulfillment.


SIMPLE

The emptiness of the house made her feel lonely.

CONTEXTUAL

Astronomers study the vast emptiness of space, where light-years of vacuum separate distant galaxies.

COMPLEX

The protagonist's internal emptiness is mirrored by the desolate landscape of the abandoned mining town, emphasizing the narrative's themes of loss and existential dread.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

Inherited from Middle English emptynesse, from Old English ǣmtiġnes. By surface analysis, empty + -ness.

Usage

Primarily uncountable; when used in the plural, it typically refers to specific instances or philosophical concepts of void.

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