empty Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a container that has been emptied
    • return all empties to the store
  2. verb make void or empty of contents
    • Empty the box
    • The alarm emptied the building
  3. verb become empty or void of its content
    discharge.
    • The room emptied
  4. verb leave behind empty; move out of
    vacate; abandon.
    • You must vacate your office by tonight
  5. verb remove
    • Empty the water
  6. verb excrete or discharge from the body
    void; evacuate.
  7. adjective holding or containing nothing
    • an empty glass
    • an empty room
    • full of empty seats
    • empty hours
  8. adjective satellite devoid of significance or point
    vacuous; hollow.
    • empty promises
    • a hollow victory
    • vacuous comments
  9. adjective satellite needing nourishment
    empty-bellied.
    • after skipped lunch the men were empty by suppertime
    • empty-bellied children
  10. adjective satellite emptied of emotion
    • after the violent argument he felt empty

WordNet


Emp"ty adjective
Etymology
AS. emtig, æmtig, æmetig, fr. æmta, æmetta, quiet, leisure, rest; of uncertain origin; cf. G. emsig busy.
Wordforms
comparative Emptier ; superlative Emptiest
Definitions
  1. Containing nothing; not holding or having anything within; void of contents or appropriate contents; not filled; -- said of an inclosure, as a box, room, house, etc.; as, an empty chest, room, purse, or pitcher; an empty stomach; empty shackles.
  2. Free; clear; devoid; -- often with of. "That fair female troop . . . empty of all good." Milton.
    I shall find you empty of that fault. Shak.
  3. Having nothing to carry; unburdened. "An empty messenger." Shak.
    When ye go ye shall not go empty. Ex. iii. 21.
  4. Destitute of effect, sincerity, or sense; -- said of language; as, empty words, or threats.
    Words are but empty thanks. Cibber.
  5. Unable to satisfy; unsatisfactory; hollow; vain; -- said of pleasure, the world, etc.
    Pleas'd in the silent shade with empty praise. Pope.
  6. Producing nothing; unfruitful; -- said of a plant or tree; as, an empty vine.
    Seven empty ears blasted with the east wind. Gen. xli. 27.
  7. Destitute of, or lacking, sense, knowledge, or courtesy; as, empty brains; an empty coxcomb.
    That in civility thou seem'st so empty. Shak.
  8. Destitute of reality, or real existence; unsubstantial; as, empty dreams. Empty is used as the first element in a compound; as, empty-handed, having nothing in the hands, destitute; empty-headed, having few ideas; empty-hearted, destitute of feeling. Syn. -- See Vacant.
Emp"ty noun
Wordforms
plural Empties
Definitions
  1. An empty box, crate, cask, etc.; -- used in commerce, esp. in transportation of freight; as, "special rates for empties."
Emp"ty transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Emptied ; present participle & verbal noun Emptying
Definitions
  1. To deprive of the contents; to exhaust; to make void or destitute; to make vacant; to pour out; to discharge; as, to empty a vessel; to empty a well or a cistern.
    The clouds . . . empty themselves upon the earth. Eccl. xi. 3.
Emp"ty intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To discharge itself; as, a river empties into the ocean.
  2. To become empty. "The chapel empties." B. Jonson.

Webster 1913