empty-handed

adjective

emp·ty-hand·ed ˌem(p)-tē-ˈhan-dəd

: having or bringing nothing

: having acquired or gained nothing

came back empty-handed

Examples of empty-handed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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In the end, Gangs of New York went home empty-handed despite its 10 nods, and Rob Marshall’s Chicago won best picture. —

Radhika Seth, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2025 Alas, the chairman of the Tortured Poets Department went home empty-handed. —

Bryan West, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2025 The legendary percussionist and singer received her first and — up until this year — only Grammy nominations way back in 1985 (including one for Best New Artist) but went home empty-handed that night. —

Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2025 Pearl Jam came home empty-handed from the Grammys last night, as did Benson Boone, the former American Idol contestant from Monroe, Washington, who lost the best new artist award to Chappell Roan. —

Axios Seattle, Axios, 3 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for empty-handed