Word
emptiness
Phoneticsempti·ness
US/ˈɛmptinəs/
UK/ˈɛmptɪnəs/
Uncountable noun
Definition
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.
Examples
“The emptiness of the house made her feel lonely.”
“Astronomers study the vast emptiness of space, where light-years of vacuum separate distant galaxies.”
“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.”
Examples
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.”
Usage
Primarily uncountable; when used in the plural, it typically refers to specific instances or philosophical concepts of void.
Real-World Examples
“The suburbs promise space yet deliver emptiness, critics charge.” Etymology
Inherited from Middle English emptynesse, from Old English ǣmtiġnes. By surface analysis, empty + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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