Empty-handed

Full definition of empty-handed

Adjective

1. Having nothing to give.I felt bad having shown up to the baby shower empty-handed.
2. Having given or received nothing.
3. (figuratively) Having failed in a task.I was supposed to clean up the trash out back, but I returned empty-handed.
4. (of a style of martial arts such as karate) That revolves purely around unarmed, hand-to-hand combat, and uses no weapons.

Synonyms

Antonyms

• full-handed