- a container that has been emptied
"return all empties to the store"

- excrete or discharge from the body

- become empty or void of its content
"The room emptied"

- make void or empty of contents
"Empty the box"
"The alarm emptied the building"

- remove
"Empty the water"

- leave behind empty

- move out of
"You must vacate your office by tonight"

- holding or containing nothing
"an empty glass"
"an empty room"
"full of empty seats"
"empty hours"

- emptied of emotion
"after the violent argument he felt empty"

- needing nourishment
"after skipped lunch the men were empty by suppertime"
"empty-bellied children"

- devoid of significance or point
"empty promises"
"a hollow victory"
"vacuous comments"

- having nothing inside
"an empty sphere"

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.

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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.

1. An empty box, crate, cask, etc.; -- used in commerce, esp. in transportation of freight; as, "special rates for empties."

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.

1. To discharge itself; as, a river empties into the ocean.

2. To become empty. "The chapel empties." B. Jonson.