A feeling of emptiness is an unhappy or frightening feeling that nothing is worthwhile, especially when you are very tired or have just experienced something upsetting.
The result later in life may be feelings of emptiness and depression.
2. uncountable noun
The emptiness of a place is the fact that there is nothing in it.
...the emptiness of the desert. [+ of]
Synonyms: bareness, waste, desolation, destitution More Synonyms of emptiness
3. singular noun
An emptiness is a very large area of land, sea, or space that has nothing in it.
[literary]
I drove for a while across this fearsome emptiness.
More Synonyms of emptiness
Examples of 'emptiness' in a sentence
emptiness
The emptiness of the space becomes uncanny and haunting.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Anything to fill that great emptiness.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The green chambers of my interminable palace were deserted - emptiness succeeding emptiness.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
It's going to take a very long time to work out how to fill the enormous emptiness.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Deep down they realize that something is missing, but they have chosen to fill that emptiness through worldly pursuits.
Christianity Today (2000)
As well as feeling shut off from the world, inside there is a great emptiness which does not seem to be able to be filled.
Wilkinson, Helena Beyond Chaotic Eating (1993)
We consume, we watch spectacles, trying to fill that emptiness.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
As the months passed, the feelings of loneliness and emptiness just didn't go away.
The Sun (2012)
The Earth is not important in the cosmos, it is a tiny speck surrounded by this vast emptiness.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Once they had the emptiness of modern life to face; now they have to deal with the emptiness of being middle-aged.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We write about the emptiness, the loneliness and solitude, the pain in the heart of missing your camp and your loved ones.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
emptiness
British English: emptiness NOUN
A feeling of emptiness is an unhappy or frightening feeling that nothing is worthwhile.
The result later in life may be feelings of emptiness and depression.
American English: emptiness
Brazilian Portuguese: vazio
Chinese: 空虚
European Spanish: vacío
French: vide
German: Leere
Italian: vuoto
Japanese: >むなしさ心の
Korean: 공허감
European Portuguese: vazio
Latin American Spanish: vacío
Chinese translation of 'emptiness'
emptiness
(ˈɛmptɪnɪs)
n(u)
[of area, region etc]空旷(曠) (kōngkuàng)
[of life etc]空虚(虛) (kōngxū)
1 (noun)
suffering from feelings of emptiness and depression
Synonyms
futility
The futility of our attempts was frustrating.
banality
worthlessness
hollowness
pointlessness
meaninglessness
barrenness
senselessness
aimlessness
purposelessness
unsatisfactoriness
valuelessness
2 (noun)
the unsoundness and emptiness of his beliefs
Synonyms
meaninglessness
vanity
the futility of human existence and the vanity of wealth
banality
frivolity
idleness
unreality
silliness
triviality
news items of quite astonishing triviality
ineffectiveness
cheapness
insincerity
worthlessness
hollowness
inanity
the inanity of the conversation
unsubstantiality
trivialness
vainness
3 (noun)
She wanted an artistic hobby to fill the emptiness of her days.
Synonyms
void
the limitless void of outer space
gap
vacuum
The spinning turbine creates a vacuum.
empty space
nothingness
blank space
free space
vacuity
4 (noun)
the emptiness of the desert
Synonyms
bareness
waste
desolation
We looked out upon a scene of utter desolation.
destitution
blankness
barrenness
desertedness
vacantness
5 (noun)
There was an emptiness about her eyes, as if she were in a state of shock.