empty-handed
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rising star Young did not leave empty-handed, picking up best breakthrough artist while Wolf Alice snagged group of the year.
From Barron's • Feb. 28, 2026
The reprieve is short-lived: Voting begins on Feb. 26, when the brutal math of awards season will reassert itself, meaning roughly 80% of them will head home on Oscar night empty-handed.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026
Instead, Shiffrin left China empty-handed after failing to complete three of her races.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026
The Irish leave the French capital bruised and empty-handed and must regroup in time to face Italy in Dublin on 14 February, with France travelling to Wales the following day.
From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026
Gregor was eleven and, unless you counted a two-year-old sister as special weaponry, he’d come empty-handed.
From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins
![]()