Empty means containing nothing, or having none of what something is supposed to hold. An empty glass has no water in it. An empty backpack has no books or supplies inside. An empty parking lot has no cars.

When you finish your lunch, you might have an empty plate. When a theater empties after a movie, all the people leave and the seats become empty. A gas tank can run empty on a long road trip if you forget to refuel.

The word can also describe feelings. Someone might feel empty inside when they're sad or lonely, as if something important is missing. A promise can feel empty if the person making it has no real intention of keeping it. Empty words are words that sound nice but don't mean anything genuine.

You can also use empty as a verb. When you empty the dishwasher, you take everything out. When you empty your pockets, you remove whatever's inside them.

Be careful not to confuse empty with vacant, which specifically refers to spaces or positions that are unoccupied but available. A hotel room might be vacant (ready for guests), while an abandoned building is simply empty.