Blank vs Empty

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Blank

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 adjective

Empty

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 adjective

	Blank	Empty
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/blæŋk/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/blæŋk/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈempti/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈempti/"]/
Meaning	An empty space or something that is not filled.	Having nothing inside it.
Example	She handed me a blank piece of paper to write on.	The box was empty, so I decided to fill it with toys.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	A2	A2
Part of speech	adjective	adjective
Collocations	be, go, remain, completely, entirely, be, go, remain, completely, entirely, be, look, go, completely, totally, studiously	appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of, appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of
Antonyms	filled, completed, occupied	full, occupied, loaded
Common mistakes	Confused with 'blanket' - remember 'blank' means empty., Using 'blanks' incorrectly in plural when describing one empty space., Mixing up 'blank' and 'void' - 'void' is more formal and legal.	Using 'emptied' instead of 'empty' for describing a current state., Saying 'an emptyness' instead of 'emptiness' when referring to the state of being empty.
Usage notes	Use 'blank' when talking about something that is empty or not filled in, like a form. Avoid using it in very formal writing.	Use 'empty' to describe physical spaces, containers, or feelings. It may not be appropriate for formal writing when referring to more abstract concepts like 'empty promises'.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Empty his lands.

I just want to be on an empty stage

You're empty.

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Empty his lands.

I just want to be on an empty stage

Empty

Frequently asked questions: Blank vs Empty

What's the difference between Blank and Empty?

Blank: An empty space or something that is not filled. Empty: Having nothing inside it.

Are Blank and Empty the same CEFR level?

Blank: A2, Empty: A2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Blank and Empty?

Blank: adjective, Empty: adjective.

Can you show an example of each?

Blank: She handed me a blank piece of paper to write on. Empty: The box was empty, so I decided to fill it with toys.

Can I use Blank and Empty interchangeably?

Not always. Blank and Empty are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.