empty trunk

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "empty trunk" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a trunk (such as in a car or a storage trunk) that has no contents inside. Example: "After moving all my belongings, I was left with an empty trunk in the garage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"One empty trunk, also,.

The New York Times

Indeed, the grave goods of the 15th/17th centuries (weapons and horse harnesses) and the construction of coffins with an empty trunk from the 18th century are similar to the burial customs of the Cis-Baïkal area [ 44] and of the Egyin Gol Necropolis during the 3rd century BC [ 45- 47].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

6 00 Stack empty trunks in the back of the closet.

Huffington Post

Leopold confessed himself pleased and invited Caroline to Austria with him; a large sum of money duly arrived the next day, along with some empty trunks, as Leopold was aware that she loved to buy clothes.

Wikipedia

* Empty the trunk.

The New York Times

To start: Empty the trunk, inflate the tires, remove the roof rack, put in a clean air filter.

Forbes

If you must drive, choose a fuel-efficient vehicle and drive to save gas and emissions — stick to the speed limit, keep your tires properly inflated, empty your trunk of heavy items, and accelerate and brake gently for better fuel efficiency.

BBC

All we see is an empty tree trunk; the fruit and leaves of last season have long since fallen away.

Huffington Post

Crying he empties the trunk and gently puts Charlie's body inside with the umbrella.

The New Yorker

And unlike carriers strapped to the trunk, empty hitch racks usually don't have to be removed from the vehicle to access the back of the car.

The New York Times

Palm oil industry generates large amount of palm-based biomass (i.e., oil palm frond, oil palm trunk, empty fruit bunches, palm kernel shell, palm mesocarp fibre, palm kernel cake, and palm oil mill effluent) through harvesting, milling and replanting processes.

Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the state of a vehicle or storage container, use "empty trunk" to clearly convey the absence of contents. This is especially useful in contexts where loading or unloading is expected.

Common error

Avoid using "empty trunk" metaphorically when describing emotional states or personal qualities. While technically understandable, it lacks the nuanced emotional impact of more appropriate expressions like "vacant mind" or "hollow heart."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "empty trunk" functions as a noun phrase, where "empty" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "trunk". This is supported by Ludwig examples showing its use in descriptive contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "empty trunk" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a trunk that has no contents. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's frequently used in contexts ranging from news reports to scientific articles, indicating its versatility and broad applicability. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to avoid overuse in metaphorical contexts, where more nuanced language may be appropriate. When aiming for formal alternatives, consider phrases like "vacant trunk" or "a trunk devoid of contents".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfilled trunk

Replaces "empty" with "unfilled", directly contrasting with a filled trunk.

vacant trunk

Substitutes "empty" with "vacant", emphasizing the lack of occupation or contents.

trunk with nothing inside

Expands on the concept of emptiness by explicitly stating the absence of contents.

hollow trunk

Uses "hollow" to suggest the absence of contents, implying a cavity.

trunk devoid of contents

Replaces "empty" with the more formal "devoid of contents", emphasizing a complete lack.

trunk without any items

Directly states the absence of items within the trunk.

clear trunk

Uses "clear" to indicate the absence of contents, suggesting visibility through the space.

trunk free of cargo

Replaces "empty" with "free of cargo", suitable in contexts involving transportation.

trunk with no load

Similar to 'trunk free of cargo', emphasizes the absence of a burden or load.

unoccupied trunk

Substitutes "empty" with "unoccupied", focusing on the space not being used.

FAQs

How can I use "empty trunk" in a sentence?

You can use "empty trunk" to describe a car's trunk that has no items inside, such as "He checked the "empty trunk" to make sure he hadn't left anything behind".

What's a more formal way to say "empty trunk"?

A more formal alternative to "empty trunk" would be "vacant trunk" or "a trunk devoid of contents", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "an empty trunk"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to use "an empty trunk". The indefinite article "an" is used because "empty" begins with a vowel sound.

What does it mean when someone says their "trunk is empty"?

When someone says their "trunk is empty", it typically means they have no items stored in the trunk of their car, or in a storage container referred to as a trunk.