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Nothing vs Empty - What's the difference?

nothing | empty |

As nouns the difference between nothing and empty

is that nothing is something trifling, or of no consequence or importance while empty is a container, especially a bottle, whose contents have been used up, leaving it empty.

As a pronoun nothing

is not any thing; no thing.

As an adverb nothing

is not at all; in no way.

As an adjective empty is

devoid of content; containing nothing or nobody; vacant.

As a verb empty is

to make empty; to void; to remove the contents of.

nothing

English

Alternative forms

* (nonstandard) nuffin, nuffink, nuttin'

Pronoun

(wikipedia nothing) (English Pronouns)
  • Not any thing; no thing.
  • *
  • * , chapter=19
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Nothing was too small to receive attention, if a supervising eye could suggest improvements likely to conduce to the common welfare. Mr. Gordon Burnage, for instance, personally visited dust-bins and back premises, accompanied by a sort of village bailiff, going his round like a commanding officer doing billets.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-19, author=(Peter Wilby)
    • , volume=189, issue=6, page=30, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Finland spreads word on schools , passage=Imagine a country where children do nothing but play until they start compulsory schooling at age seven. Then, without exception, they attend comprehensives until the age of 16. Charging school fees is illegal, and so is sorting pupils into ability groups by streaming or setting.}}
  • An absence of anything, including empty space, brightness, darkness, matter, or a vacuum.
  • (slang, in double negatives) Anything
    • I didn't see nothing. [= I didn't see anything].

    Synonyms

    * (not any thing) ** (standard) not a thing ** (slang) jack, nada, zip ** (vulgar slang) bugger all, jack shit, sod all (British), fuck all ** (Northern English dialect) nowt :: See * (something trifling) nothing of any consequence, nothing consequential, nothing important, nothing significant, something inconsequential, something insignificant, something of no consequence, something trifling, something unimportant

    Antonyms

    * anything * everything * something

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something trifling, or of no consequence or importance.
    • What happened to your face?'' — ''It's nothing.
  • * Jeremy Taylor
    • Sermons are not like curious inquiries after new nothings , but pursuances of old truths.
  • A trivial remark (especially in the term (sweet nothings)).
  • A nobody (insignificant person).
    • You're nothing to me now!

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (archaic) Not at all; in no way.
  • *

    • Related terms

    * anything * everything * something * thing

    Derived terms

    * benothing * better than nothing * for nothing * if nothing else * it's nothing * have nothing on (someone) * leave nothing in the tank * less than nothing * next to nothing * nothing at all * nothing but * nothing doing * nothingness * nothing succeeds like success * there's nothing to it * think nothing of it

    See also

    * nobody, no one * nowhere

    References

    *

    Statistics

    * English compound determinatives English indefinite pronouns English refractory feminine rhymes English third person pronouns 1000 English basic words

    empty

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Devoid of content; containing nothing or nobody; vacant.
    • an empty''' purse; an '''empty''' jug; an '''empty stomach
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=October 23 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Man Utd 1 - 6 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=United's stature is such that one result must not bring the immediate announcement of a shift in the balance of power in Manchester - but the swathes of empty seats around Old Trafford and the wave of attacks pouring towards David de Gea's goal in the second half emphasised that City quite simply have greater firepower and talent in their squad at present.}}
  • (computing, programming) Containing no elements (as of a string or array), opposed to being null (having no valid value).
  • (obsolete) Free; clear; devoid; often with of .
  • * Milton
    • that fair female troop empty of all good
  • * Shakespeare
    • I shall find you empty of that fault.
  • Having nothing to carry; unburdened.
  • * Shakespeare
    • an empty messenger
  • * Bible, Exodus iii. 21
    • When ye go ye shall not go empty .
  • Destitute of effect, sincerity, or sense; said of language.
    • empty words, or threats
  • * Cibber
    • Words are but empty thanks.
  • Unable to satisfy; hollow; vain.
    • empty pleasures
  • * Alexander Pope
    • pleas'd in the silent shade with empty praise
  • Destitute of reality, or real existence; unsubstantial.
    • empty dreams
  • (obsolete) Producing nothing; unfruitful; said of a plant or tree.
    • an empty vine
  • * Bible, Genesis xli. 27
    • seven empty ears blasted with the east wind
  • Destitute of, or lacking, sense, knowledge, or courtesy.
    • empty''' brains; an '''empty coxcomb
  • * Shakespeare
    • that in civility thou seem'st so empty

    Synonyms

    * (devoid of content) unoccupied, clear, , toom, clean

    Antonyms

    * full

    Derived terms

    * empty-handed * emptiness * empty product * empty set * empty sum

    Verb

  • (ergative) To make empty; to void; to remove the contents of.
    • to empty a well or a cistern
    The cinema emptied quickly after the end of the film.
  • * Bible, Eccl. xi. 3
    • The clouds empty themselves upon the earth.

    Antonyms

    * fill

    Derived terms

    * empty the tank

    Noun

    (empties)
  • A container, especially a bottle, whose contents have been used up, leaving it empty.
    • Put the empties out to be recycled.

    Derived terms

    * emptiness * run on empty

    External links

    * * English refractory feminine rhymes 1000 English basic words