become empty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "become empty" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing a state of something that has lost its contents or is no longer occupied. An example is: "After the last guest left, the room began to become empty." Alternative expressions include "turn empty," "become vacant," and "emptied out."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Those conversations shouldn't become empty.

The New Yorker

Overarching values and goals become empty words.

Harvard Business Review

As the Baby Boomers become empty nesters in droves, how do they want to live?

Columbia University

"You don't want it to become empty or just a plain job," he said.

The New Yorker

Grocery stores would probably become empty and prices for goods could soar.

The Washington Post

Homes are razed as soon as they become empty, giving some alleys a gap-tooth look.

The New York Times

In my vegetable garden, I plant oats in any beds that become empty before mid-September.

The New York Times

But those votes have become empty rituals, with China's trading rights invariably renewed.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

When baby-boomers become empty-nesters, they refuse to languish on the sofa like their predecessors.

The Guardian - Film

WHERE are well-fixed city-loving baby boomers to go when they become empty-nesters?

The New York Times

David and Michal were about to become empty-nesters, and all the milestones created an air of muted excitement and stress.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase to describe both literal transitions (like a stadium clearing out) and metaphorical ones (like words losing their meaning). It is highly effective in narrative writing to signal a shift in atmosphere.

Common error

Writers often add unnecessary words like "completely" or "totally" before the phrase. Since "empty" is often considered an absolute adjective, "become empty" usually suffices on its own unless you are emphasizing the intensity of the transition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become empty" consists of the linking verb "become" followed by the adjective "empty". As noted in Ludwig AI examples, it functions to describe a transition from a state of being filled or occupied to a state of void. It acts as a predicative adjective phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

According to Ludwig AI and the data analyzed, "become empty" is a robust and highly versatile phrase used across a wide spectrum of English registers. With 57 exact matches in high-quality sources, it is frequently employed in "News & Media" to describe everything from literal grocery stores to metaphorical political rituals. In "Science" and "Academia", it serves a more technical purpose, describing sets, nodes, or biological demes that lose their constituents. The AI response status confirms its grammatical correctness, and its use in phrases like "empty nesters" shows its deep integration into common idioms. Overall, it is an essential phrase for writers needing to describe a transition into a vacant or meaningless state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

empty out

Emphasizes the process or action of removing contents.

become vacant

More formal and typically used for buildings, rooms, or job positions.

turn empty

Suggests a more sudden or noticeable change in state.

grow empty

Implies a gradual or developmental process of losing content.

go empty

A slightly more informal way to describe the transition.

become hollow

Often used metaphorically for words, feelings, or objects that lose substance.

become depleted

Used in scientific or technical contexts to describe resources being used up.

clear out

Focuses on the result of people or things leaving a space.

run dry

Specifically refers to liquids or metaphorical resources like money or inspiration.

drain away

Focuses on the gradual disappearance of a substance or feeling.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "become empty"?

Depending on your context, you can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/empty+out" target="_blank" rel="alternative">empty out", "<a href="/s/become+vacant" target="_blank" rel="alternative">become vacant", or "<a href="/s/turn+empty" target="_blank" rel="alternative">turn empty".

Is "become empty" correct in formal writing?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. In scientific papers, you might see it describing datasets or containers, while in business it often describes roles or markets.

How do I use "become empty" in a sentence about emotions?

You can describe feelings or rituals that have lost their sincerity, such as "the promises had "become empty" over time" or "her heart seemed to <a href="/s/grow+empty" target="_blank" rel="alternative">grow empty".

What's the difference between "become empty" and "go empty"?

While both describe a change in state, "<a href="/s/go+empty" target="_blank" rel="alternative">go empty" is more informal, whereas "become empty" is the standard neutral choice for news and academic writing.