empty
emp·ty / ˈem(p)tē/ • adj. (-ti·er, -ti·est) containing nothing; not filled or occupied: the room was empty of furniture. ∎ fig. (of words or a gesture) having no meaning or likelihood of fulfillment; insincere: empty threats. ∎ fig. having no value or purpose: her life felt empty and meaningless. ∎ inf. hungry. ∎ Math. (of a set) containing no members or elements. ∎ emotionally exhausted: at the funeral he stood feeling drained and empty.• v. (-ties, -tied) [tr.] remove all the contents of (a container): we empty the cash register each night at closing time. ∎ remove (the contents) from a container: he emptied out the contents of his briefcase. ∎ [intr.] (of a place) be vacated by people in it: the bar suddenly seemed to empty. ∎ [intr.] (empty into) (of a river) discharge itself into (the sea or a lake).• n. (pl. -ties) (usu. empties) inf. a container (esp. a bottle or glass) left empty of its contents.PHRASES: running on empty exhausted of all one's resources or sustenance.DERIVATIVES: emp·ti·ly / -təlē/ adv.emp·ti·ness n.
empty
empty sacks will never stand upright those in an extremity of need cannot survive; saying recorded from the mid 17th century.
empty vessels make the most sound foolish and empty-headed people make the most noise (a vessel here is a receptacle such as a drinking-bowl). Saying recorded from the mid 15th century.
See also better are small fish than an empty dish.