Empty vs. Full: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Empty denotes the absence of content or occupants, whereas full indicates being completely filled or occupied to capacity.
Key Differences
Empty refers to a state where something contains nothing; it's devoid of contents or occupants. Full, in contrast, describes a condition where something is completely occupied or filled, leaving no extra space.
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Dec 05, 2023
The concept of empty can apply to both physical and abstract spaces, like an empty room or an empty promise. Full, however, often relates to tangible, physical spaces or quantities, like a full glass or a full schedule.
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Emptiness can imply a lack or a need for something, as in an empty stomach needing food. Fullness often suggests satisfaction or completion, like a full belly after a meal.
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Empty can also convey a sense of absence or loneliness, such as an empty house. Full, on the other hand, might imply abundance or even overcrowding, like a full theater.
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While empty often indicates something missing and needing to be filled, full can suggest no additional capacity, sometimes even to the point of excess, like a closet too full to close.
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Dec 05, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Physical Context
Often used for containers, rooms, spaces with nothing inside
Used to describe containers, rooms, spaces filled to capacity
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Abstract Context
Can describe intangibles, like feelings or promises
Usually pertains to tangible, measurable quantities
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Emotional Connotation
Often negative, implying lack or need
Can be positive, implying satisfaction or completion
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Implication of Capacity
Indicates available space or a need to be filled
Suggests no additional capacity, possibly excess
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Empty and Full Definitions
Full
Complete, with no part lacking.
He had a full understanding of the subject.
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Empty
Having nothing inside or on the surface; holding or containing nothing
An empty bag.
An empty lot.
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Oct 19, 2023
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Empty
Not having an incumbent or occupant; unfilled
An empty post at the embassy.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Having a base runner at first, second, and third base
The bases were full when the slugger stepped up to bat.
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Empty
Needing nourishment; hungry
"More fierce and more inexorable far / Than empty tigers or the roaring sea" (Shakespeare).
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Having an appetite completely satisfied, especially for food or drink
Was full after the Thanksgiving dinner.
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
Devoid of content; containing nothing or nobody; vacant.
An empty purse
An empty jug
An empty stomach
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Completely absorbed or preoccupied
“He was already pretty full of himself” (Ron Rosenbaum).
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
Containing no elements (as of a string, array, or set), opposed to being null (having no valid value).
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
Destitute of effect, sincerity, or sense; said of language.
Empty words, or threats
Empty offer
Empty promises
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
To a complete extent; entirely. Sometimes used in combination
Knew full well.
Full blown.
Full-fledged.
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
Destitute of, or lacking, sense, knowledge, or courtesy.
Empty brains
An empty coxcomb
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Full
To increase the density and usually the thickness of (cloth) by shrinking and beating or pressing.
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
(of some female animals, especially cows and sheep) Not pregnant; not producing offspring when expected to do so during the breeding season.
Empty cow rates have increased in recent years.
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
(intransitive) Of a river, duct, etc: to drain or flow toward an ultimate destination.
Salmon River empties on the W shore about 2 miles below Bear River.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Containing the maximum possible amount that can fit in the space available.
The jugs were full to the point of overflowing.
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Empty
A container, especially a bottle, whose contents have been used up, leaving it empty.
Put the empties out to be recycled.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Complete; with nothing omitted.
Our book gives full treatment to the subject of angling.
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
Containing nothing; not holding or having anything within; void of contents or appropriate contents; not filled; - said of an inclosure, or a container, as a box, room, house, etc.; as, an empty chest, room, purse, or pitcher; an empty stomach; empty shackles.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Total, entire.
She had tattoos the full length of her arms.
He was prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
Free; clear; devoid; - often with of.
I shall find you empty of that fault.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Completely empowered, authorized or qualified (in some role); not limited.
Full member
Full officer
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Empty
Having nothing to carry; unburdened.
When ye go ye shall not go empty.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
(informal) Having eaten to satisfaction, having a "full" stomach; replete.
"I'm full," he said, pushing back from the table.
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
Destitute of effect, sincerity, or sense; - said of language; as, empty words, or threats.
Words are but empty thanks.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Replete, abounding with.
This movie doesn't make sense; it's full of plot holes.
I prefer my pizzas full of toppings.
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
Unable to satisfy; unsatisfactory; hollow; vain; - said of pleasure, the world, etc.
Pleas'd in the silent shade with empty praise.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
(of physical features) Plump, round.
Full lips; a full face; a full figure
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
Producing nothing; unfruitful; - said of a plant or tree; as, an empty vine.
Seven empty ears blasted with the east wind.
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
Destitute of, or lacking, sense, knowledge, or courtesy; as, empty brains; an empty coxcomb.
That in civility thou seem'st so empty.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
(of garments) Of a size that is ample, wide, or having ample folds or pleats to be comfortable.
A full pleated skirt;
She needed her full clothing during her pregnancy.
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
Destitute of reality, or real existence; unsubstantial; as, empty dreams.
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
An empty box, crate, cask, etc.; - used in commerce, esp. in transportation of freight; as, "special rates for empties."
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
(obsolete) Having the mind filled with ideas; stocked with knowledge; stored with information.
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
To deprive of the contents; to exhaust; to make void or destitute; to make vacant; to pour out; to discharge; as, to empty a vessel; to empty a well or a cistern.
The clouds . . . empty themselves upon the earth.
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Full
Having the attention, thoughts, etc., absorbed in any matter, and the feelings more or less excited by it.
She's full of her latest project.
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Empty
Make void or empty of contents;
Empty the box
The alarm emptied the building
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Full
(archaic) Fully; quite; very; thoroughly; completely; exactly; entirely.
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
Leave behind empty; move out of;
You must vacate your office by tonight
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Utmost measure or extent; highest state or degree; the state, position, or moment of fullness; fill.
I was fed to the full.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
(of the moon) The phase of the moon when its entire face is illuminated, full moon.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
(freestyle skiing) An aerialist maneuver consisting of a backflip in conjunction and simultaneous with a complete twist.
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Empty
Holding or containing nothing;
An empty glass
An empty room
Full of empty seats
Empty hours
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Empty
Devoid of significance or point;
Empty promises
A hollow victory
Vacuous comments
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
To make cloth denser and firmer by soaking, beating and pressing; to waulk or walk.
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Oct 19, 2023
Empty
Needing nourishment;
After skipped lunch the men were empty by suppertime
Empty-bellied children
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Full
Filled up, having within its limits all that it can contain; supplied; not empty or vacant; - said primarily of hollow vessels, and hence of anything else; as, a cup full of water; a house full of people.
Had the throne been full, their meeting would not have been regular.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Abundantly furnished or provided; sufficient in quantity, quality, or degree; copious; plenteous; ample; adequate; as, a full meal; a full supply; a full voice; a full compensation; a house full of furniture.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Not wanting in any essential quality; complete; entire; perfect; adequate; as, a full narrative; a person of full age; a full stop; a full face; the full moon.
It came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaohdreamed.
The man commandsLike a full soldier.
I can notRequest a fuller satisfactionThan you have freely granted.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Having the mind filled with ideas; stocked with knowledge; stored with information.
Reading maketh a full man.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Having the attention, thoughts, etc., absorbed in any matter, and the feelings more or less excited by it, as, to be full of some project.
Every one is full of the miracles done by cold baths on decayed and weak constitutions.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Complete measure; utmost extent; the highest state or degree.
The swan's-down feather,That stands upon the swell at full of tide.
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Full
Quite; to the same degree; without abatement or diminution; with the whole force or effect; thoroughly; completely; exactly; entirely.
The pawn I proffer shall be full as good.
The diapason closing full in man.
Full in the center of the sacred wood.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
To thicken by moistening, heating, and pressing, as cloth; to mill; to make compact; to scour, cleanse, and thicken in a mill.
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Containing as much or as many as is possible or normal;
A full glass
A sky full of stars
A full life
The auditorium was full to overflowing
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Full
Constituting the full quantity or extent; complete;
An entire town devastated by an earthquake
Gave full attention
A total failure
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Full
Complete in extent or degree and in every particular;
A full game
A total eclipse
A total disaster
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Having the normally expected amount;
Gives full measure
Gives good measure
A good mile from here
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Not separated into parts or shares; constituting an undivided unit;
An undivided interest in the property
A full share
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
To the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (`full' in this sense is used as a combining form);
Fully grown
He didn't fully understand
Knew full well
Full-grown
Full-fledged
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Oct 19, 2023
Full
Rich in content or quality.
The book was full of interesting characters.
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Dec 05, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can a place be both empty and full?
In different contexts, yes; a place can be physically empty but full of memories.
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Dec 05, 2023
Does empty imply potential?
Often, it suggests potential for filling or use, like an empty canvas.
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Dec 05, 2023
Can empty refer to emotions?
Yes, empty can describe a feeling of emptiness or lack of emotion.
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Dec 05, 2023
Is full always positive?
Not necessarily; full can be negative, like in 'full of problems.'
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Dec 05, 2023
Does empty have a specific measurement?
No, empty is a relative term, not a precise measurement.
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Dec 05, 2023
Is full always about physical space?
No, it can refer to abstract concepts, like a full understanding.
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Dec 05, 2023
Can something be semi-empty?
Yes, semi-empty is used to describe something not completely empty.
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Dec 05, 2023
Is empty used in technology?
Yes, like an empty battery or empty storage space.
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Dec 05, 2023
Can empty be a positive term?
In some contexts, like an empty schedule implying free time.
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Dec 05, 2023
Can full mean complete?
Yes, full can imply completeness, like in 'a full set.'
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Dec 05, 2023
Is full a subjective term?
Yes, what's full for one may not be for another, like in opinions.
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Dec 05, 2023
Can a life be full?
Yes, describing a life full of experiences or activities.
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Dec 05, 2023
Can a feeling be empty?
Yes, feelings can be described as empty, meaning lacking depth or sincerity.
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Dec 05, 2023
Is an empty threat serious?
An empty threat is typically not serious or without intention to act.
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Dec 05, 2023
Can an idea be empty?
Yes, an idea can be called empty if it lacks substance or value.
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Dec 05, 2023
Does empty always mean nothing inside?
Generally, yes, but it can be relative, like 'almost empty.'
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Dec 05, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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