Emptiness is the state of containing nothing, or the feeling that something important is missing. An empty room has no furniture or people in it. An empty stomach growls because it has no food. An empty promise sounds good but means nothing because the person making it has no intention of keeping it.

But emptiness often describes feelings more than physical spaces. After finishing an amazing book series, you might feel a strange emptiness because those characters and that world meant so much to you. When a best friend moves away, the emptiness you feel isn't about physical space, it's about missing someone who filled your life with laughter and companionship.

Sometimes emptiness comes from boredom or lack of purpose. A summer day might feel empty if you have nothing interesting to do. A victory might feel empty if you achieved it in a way that compromised your values, or if you realize it wasn't what you really wanted.

The opposite of emptiness is fullness: a full heart, a full schedule, a full understanding. When you're engaged in meaningful activities, surrounded by people you care about, or absorbed in something that challenges you, emptiness often fades.