Empty vs. Fill — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Empty and Fill
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Compare with Definitions
Empty
Containing nothing; not filled or occupied
The room was empty of furniture
She put down her empty cup
Fill
To put something into (a container, for example) to capacity or to a desired level
Fill a glass with milk.
Filled the tub with water.
Empty
(of words or a gesture) lacking meaning or sincerity
Their promises were empty words
Fill
To supply or provide to the fullest extent
Filled the mall with new stores.
Empty
Having no value or purpose
Her life felt empty and meaningless
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Fill
To build up the level of (low-lying land) with material such as earth or gravel.
Empty
Remove all the contents of (a container)
Pockets were emptied of loose change
We empty the till at closing time
Fill
To stop or plug up (an opening, for example).
Empty
A bottle or glass left empty of its contents
The barman collected the empties
Fill
To repair a cavity of (a tooth).
Empty
Having nothing inside or on the surface; holding or containing nothing
An empty bag.
An empty lot.
Fill
To add a foreign substance to (cloth or wood, for example).
Empty
(Mathematics) Having no elements or members; null
An empty set.
Fill
To flow or move into (a container or area), often to capacity
Water is filling the basement. Fans are filling the stadium.
Empty
Having no occupants; not being used
An empty chair.
Fill
To pervade
Music filled the room.
Empty
Not having an incumbent or occupant; unfilled
An empty post at the embassy.
Fill
To satiate, as with food and drink
The guests filled themselves with pie.
Empty
Not put to purposeful use; idle
Empty hours.
Fill
To engage or occupy completely
A song that filled me with nostalgia.
Empty
Lacking force or power
An empty threat.
Fill
To satisfy or meet; fulfill
Fill the requirements.
Empty
Lacking purpose or substance; meaningless
An empty life.
Fill
To supply what is specified by or required for
Fill a prescription.
Fill an order.
Empty
Needing nourishment; hungry
"More fierce and more inexorable far / Than empty tigers or the roaring sea" (Shakespeare).
Fill
To put a person into (a job or position)
We filled the job with a new hire.
Empty
Devoid; destitute
Empty of pity.
Fill
To discharge the duties of; occupy
How long has she filled that post?.
Empty
To remove the contents of
Emptied the dishwasher.
Fill
To cover the surface of (an inexpensive metal) with a layer of precious metal, such as gold.
Empty
To transfer or pour off completely
Empty the ashes into a pail.
Fill
To cause (a sail) to swell.
Empty
To unburden; relieve
Empty oneself of doubt.
Fill
To adjust (a yard) so that wind will cause a sail to swell.
Empty
To become empty
The theater emptied after the performance.
Fill
To become full
The basement is filling with water.
Empty
To discharge its contents
The river empties into a bay.
Fill
An amount needed to make full, complete, or satisfied
Eat one's fill.
Empty
An empty container.
Fill
Material for filling a container, cavity, or passage.
Empty
Devoid of content; containing nothing or nobody; vacant.
An empty purse
An empty jug
An empty stomach
Fill
A built-up piece of land; an embankment.
Empty
Containing no elements (as of a string, array, or set), opposed to being null (having no valid value).
Fill
The material, such as earth or gravel, used for this.
Empty
(obsolete) Free; clear; devoid; often with of.
Fill
(transitive) To occupy fully, to take up all of.
Empty
Having nothing to carry, emptyhanded; unburdened.
Fill
(transitive) To add contents to (a container, cavity, or the like) so that it is full.
Empty
Destitute of effect, sincerity, or sense; said of language.
Empty words, or threats
Empty offer
Empty promises
Fill
To enter (something), making it full.
Empty
Unable to satisfy; hollow; vain.
Empty pleasures
Fill
(intransitive) To become full.
The bucket filled with rain;
The sails fill with wind
Empty
Destitute of reality, or real existence; unsubstantial.
Empty dreams
Fill
(intransitive) To become pervaded with something.
My heart filled with joy.
Empty
Destitute of, or lacking, sense, knowledge, or courtesy.
Empty brains
An empty coxcomb
Fill
(transitive) To satisfy or obey (an order, request, or requirement).
The pharmacist filled my prescription for penicillin.
We can't let the library close! It fills a great need in the community.
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.
Fill
(transitive) To install someone, or be installed, in (a position or office), eliminating a vacancy.
Sorry, no more applicants. The position has been filled.
Empty
Producing nothing; unfruitful.
An empty vine
Fill
(transitive) To treat (a tooth) by adding a dental filling to it.
Dr. Smith filled Jim's cavity with silver amalgam.
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.
Fill
(transitive) To fill or supply fully with food; to feed; to satisfy.
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.
Fill
To trim (a yard) so that the wind blows on the after side of the sails.
Empty
A container, especially a bottle, whose contents have been used up, leaving it empty.
Put the empties out to be recycled.
Fill
To have sexual intercourse with (a female).
Did you fill that girl last night?
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.
Fill
(after a possessive) A sufficient or more than sufficient amount.
Don't feed him any more: he's had his fill.
Empty
Free; clear; devoid; - often with of.
I shall find you empty of that fault.
Fill
An amount that fills a container.
The mixer returned to the plant for another fill.
Empty
Having nothing to carry; unburdened.
When ye go ye shall not go empty.
Fill
The filling of a container or area.
That machine can do 20 fills a minute.
This paint program supports lines, circles, and textured fills.
Empty
Destitute of effect, sincerity, or sense; - said of language; as, empty words, or threats.
Words are but empty thanks.
Fill
Inexpensive material used to occupy empty spaces, especially in construction.
The ruins of earlier buildings were used as fill for more recent construction.
Empty
Unable to satisfy; unsatisfactory; hollow; vain; - said of pleasure, the world, etc.
Pleas'd in the silent shade with empty praise.
Fill
(archaeology) Soil and/or human-created debris discovered within a cavity or cut in the layers and exposed by excavation; fill soil.
Empty
Producing nothing; unfruitful; - said of a plant or tree; as, an empty vine.
Seven empty ears blasted with the east wind.
Fill
An embankment, as in railroad construction, to fill a hollow or ravine; also, the place which is to be filled.
Empty
Destitute of, or lacking, sense, knowledge, or courtesy; as, empty brains; an empty coxcomb.
That in civility thou seem'st so empty.
Fill
(music) A short passage, riff, or rhythmic sound that helps to keep the listener's attention during a break between the phrases of a melody.
Bass fill
Empty
Destitute of reality, or real existence; unsubstantial; as, empty dreams.
Fill
One of the thills or shafts of a carriage.
Empty
An empty box, crate, cask, etc.; - used in commerce, esp. in transportation of freight; as, "special rates for empties."
Fill
One of the thills or shafts of a carriage.
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.
Fill
A full supply, as much as supplies want; as much as gives complete satisfaction.
I'll bear thee hence, where I may weep my fill.
Empty
To discharge itself; as, a river empties into the ocean.
Fill
That which fills; filling; filler; specif., an embankment, as in railroad construction, to fill a hollow or ravine; also, the place which is to be filled.
Empty
To become empty.
Fill
To make full; to supply with as much as can be held or contained; to put or pour into, till no more can be received; to occupy the whole capacity of.
The rain also filleth the pools.
Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. Anf they filled them up to the brim.
Empty
A container that has been emptied;
Return all empties to the store
Fill
To furnish an abudant supply to; to furnish with as mush as is desired or desirable; to occupy the whole of; to swarm in or overrun.
And God blessed them, saying. Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas.
The Syrians filled the country.
Empty
Make void or empty of contents;
Empty the box
The alarm emptied the building
Fill
To fill or supply fully with food; to feed; to satisfy.
Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fillso great a multitude?
Things that are sweet and fat are more filling.
Empty
Become empty or void of its content;
The room emptied
Fill
To possess and perform the duties of; to officiate in, as an incumbent; to occupy; to hold; as, a king fills a throne; the president fills the office of chief magistrate; the speaker of the House fills the chair.
Empty
Leave behind empty; move out of;
You must vacate your office by tonight
Fill
To supply with an incumbent; as, to fill an office or a vacancy.
Empty
Remove;
Empty the water
Fill
To press and dilate, as a sail; as, the wind filled the sails.
Empty
Excrete or discharge from the body
Fill
To make an embankment in, or raise the level of (a low place), with earth or gravel.
Empty
Holding or containing nothing;
An empty glass
An empty room
Full of empty seats
Empty hours
Fill
To become full; to have the whole capacity occupied; to have an abundant supply; to be satiated; as, corn fills well in a warm season; the sail fills with the wind.
Empty
Devoid of significance or point;
Empty promises
A hollow victory
Vacuous comments
Fill
To fill a cup or glass for drinking.
Give me some wine; fill full.
Empty
Having nothing inside;
An empty sphere
Fill
A quantity sufficient to satisfy;
He ate his fill of potatoes
She had heard her fill of gossip
Empty
Needing nourishment;
After skipped lunch the men were empty by suppertime
Empty-bellied children
Fill
Any material that fills a space or container;
There was not enough fill for the trench
Empty
Emptied of emotion;
After the violent argument he felt empty
Fill
Make full, also in a metaphorical sense;
Fill a container
Fill the child with pride
Fill
Become full;
The pool slowly filled with water
The theater filled up slowly
Fill
Occupy the whole of;
The liquid fills the container
Fill
Assume, as of positions or roles;
She took the job as director of development
Fill
Fill or meet a want or need
Fill
Appoint someone to (a position or a job)
Fill
Eat until one is sated;
He filled up on turkey
Fill
Fill to satisfaction;
I am sated
Fill
Plug with a substance;
Fill a cavity
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