What does "empty" mean?

1. (containing nothing) having nothing inside. 2. (without meaning) having no real value, meaning, or sincerity. 3. (computing/math) containing no data or items, like a list with zero things in it. 4. (to remove contents) to take everything out of a container. 5. (to flow into) when a river or pipe flows into a larger body of water. 6. (used containers) bottles or containers that are now without their contents.

How do you use "empty"?

Usually used in the plural form 'empties'.

empty

adj. · v. · n.

US //ˈɛmpti// UK //ˈɛmpti// emp·ty

1 containing nothing (adj.)
A2 Elementary

having nothing inside.

containing no people or things; devoid of contents.

Example

The room was completely empty except for a single wooden chair.

Example

The hikers found an empty cabin in the woods, providing them with much-needed shelter from the sudden downpour.
- full
- occupied
2 without meaning (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

having no real value, meaning, or sincerity.

lacking sincerity, purpose, or substance; often used to describe words or promises.

Example

He made many empty promises that he never intended to keep.

Example

The politician's speech was criticized for being full of empty rhetoric that failed to address the actual concerns of the voters.
- meaningful
- sincere

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3 computing/math (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

containing no data or items, like a list with zero things in it.

containing no elements or members; specifically distinguished from 'null' in programming contexts.

Example

The program crashed because it tried to read an empty list.

Example

The function returns an empty array if no matching records are found in the database, rather than returning a null value.
- blank
- void
- populated
4 to remove contents (v.)
A2 Elementary

to take everything out of a container.

to remove the contents of a container or space completely.

Example

Please empty the trash can before you leave the office.

Example

The staff worked quickly to empty the gallery before the renovation crew arrived the following morning.
- fill
5 to flow into (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

when a river or pipe flows into a larger body of water.

to discharge or flow into a larger body of water or a specific destination.

Example

The local river empties into the sea just a few miles from here.

Example

Several small streams empty into the reservoir, maintaining the water level even during the dry summer months.
6 used containers (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate British English

bottles or containers that are now without their contents.

containers, particularly glass bottles or crates, whose contents have been consumed or removed.

Example

We need to take the empties back to the shop for the deposit.

Example

The morning after the festival, the grounds were littered with glass empties and discarded food packaging.

Usage

Usually used in the plural form 'empties'.
- recyclables

Origin

From Middle English emty, amty, from Old English ǣmtiġ, ǣmettiġ (“vacant, empty, free, idle, unmarried”, literally “without must or obligation, leisurely”), from Proto-Germanic uz- (“out”) + Proto-Germanic mōtijô, mōtô (“must, obligation, need”), mōtiþô (“ability, accommodation”), from Proto-Indo-European *med- (“measure; to acquire, possess, be in command”). Related to Old English ġeǣmtigian (“to empty”), ǣmetta (“leisure”), mōtan (“can, to be allowed”). More at mote, meet. The interconsonantal excrescent p is a euphonic insertion dating from Middle English.

Word family

Nounemptiness
Adjectiveempty

Idioms5 entries