Empty describes something with nothing or no one inside, depending on the context.

The idea

Use an empty cup before a noun or the cup is empty after be. Empty of passengers specifies the people absent.

Examples

  • The cup is empty.
  • She put the empty box beside the door.
  • The room was empty when we arrived.
  • Is this bottle empty or full?
  • They carried the empty bags home.
  • The train was empty of passengers.

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Watch out

An empty room may mean no people are there; context determines whether furniture or other objects are absent too.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the word for no contents. There is nothing in the cup: it is ___. (empty / full)

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    empty

    An empty cup contains nothing.

  2. Decide whether empty can mean no people. A room has chairs but no people. Can it be empty of people? (yes / no)

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    yes

    An empty room can have furniture but no people.

  3. Choose the opposite for a filled bottle. The bottle is filled to the top; it is ___. (full / empty)

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    full

    Full is the opposite of empty for a filled bottle.

Use it today

Describe an empty container or place and say what is absent.