appear to be empty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appear to be empty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that seems to lack content or substance, often in a literal or figurative sense. Example: "The box was left on the table, and it appeared to be empty, with no signs of its previous contents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"I don't know when CBS was there, but if it was when school was out, the schools would appear to be empty," he said.

The New York Times

Some of the companies deal in the family business of real estate, others appear to be empty entities, and several suggest a fondness for dogs: Woofing LLC, WoofWoof LLC and Igor-Fayette Inc. (Durst owned a succession of dogs named Igor in the early 1980s).

The Guardian

The drastic action has been proposed as the north London borough revealed that 30% of a representative sample of 2,000 homes built in the last six years have nobody on the electoral register and, even when students and foreign tenants are discounted, close to a quarter of homes in five of the newest residential developments appear to be empty.

The Guardian - Business

The Consumer Product Safety Commission will vote today on whether to seek a recall of seven million Daisy BB guns that some contend can fire pellets even when they appear to be empty and that have been blamed for 23 deaths and many injuries in 30 years.

The New York Times

Interestingly, it is known from [7] that for uniform decoder and channel-optimized encoder quantizer with CNC index assignment, as crossover probability increases to a certain value, some of the encoding cells appear to be empty, which is also discovered in [22, 23].

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Native communities are often highly self-sufficient, and so their territories appear to be empty spaces on the maps of government officials who award dam and logging concessions.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

For quantum theory has shown that a vacuum (ie, nothing) only appears to be empty space.

The Economist

As we drove, we saw abandoned homes, and the towns of Naraha, Tomioka and Okuma appeared to be empty.

The New York Times

Clothing shops and jewelry stores appeared to be empty, with bored clerks listlessly polishing glass display cases.

The New York Times

Lawyers for the teenager, Tucker Mahoney, 17, and his parents claimed the gun was defective because it appeared to be empty but was not.

The New York Times

In one, Al Muradiya, the Sunni Tawaffuk and Reform Party had unfurled a huge banner from a building that appeared to be empty.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "appear to be empty", ensure that the context clearly establishes the basis for the appearance. Is it a visual assessment, a lack of activity, or some other indicator? Providing context enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that something that "appears to be empty" actually is. The phrase indicates a surface-level assessment, not necessarily a definitive statement of fact. Further investigation might reveal hidden content or activity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appear to be empty" primarily functions as a descriptive phrase. It qualifies a noun by indicating a perceived state of lacking content or occupants. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. Examples from Ludwig illustrate this function in contexts ranging from physical spaces to abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "appear to be empty" serves as a descriptive phrase indicating a perception of emptiness, with Ludwig AI confirming its grammatical correctness and common usage. It functions to convey a subjective impression, is appropriate across various registers, and is most frequently encountered in news media and scientific contexts. While commonly used, it's essential to remember that "appearing" empty doesn't guarantee actual emptiness. Consider context carefully for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seem to be vacant

Focuses more on the apparent lack of occupants or contents.

look to be deserted

Emphasizes the impression of abandonment or lack of activity.

give the impression of being hollow

Highlights the superficial emptiness rather than the absolute absence of content.

present as unoccupied

Focuses on the state of not being used or inhabited.

have the appearance of emptiness

Stresses the visible or perceived lack of content or substance.

seem devoid of content

Highlights the perceived absence of any meaningful or substantial elements.

manifest as uninhabited

Implies a visual presentation of an empty space, particularly in a place where someone can live.

strike one as bare

Emphasizes the lack of any adornment or covering.

project the image of being barren

Suggests a lack of fertility or productivity, in addition to emptiness.

seem to lack contents

Directly states the absence of the thing which would normally occupy something.

FAQs

What does "appear to be empty" mean?

The phrase "appear to be empty" suggests that something looks like it doesn't contain anything, even though that might not be the actual case.

What can I say instead of "appear to be empty"?

You can use alternatives like "seem to be vacant", "look to be deserted", or "give the impression of being hollow" depending on the context.

How do I use "appear to be empty" in a sentence?

Use "appear to be empty" to describe something that gives the impression of lacking contents or occupants. For example, "The house appeared to be empty, with all the windows dark and no sign of life."

Is it correct to say "appears to be empty"?

Yes, "appears to be empty" is correct. The choice between "appear" and "appears" depends on the subject's number. Use "appears" with singular subjects and "appear" with plural subjects.