Cool MateEmpty vs Flush down
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Empty
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Flush down
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Empty
| Empty | Flush down | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈempti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈempti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //flʌʃ daʊn//🇺🇸 //flʌʃ daʊn// |
| Meaning | Having nothing inside it. | To send waste away with water, usually in a toilet. |
| Example | The box was empty, so I decided to fill it with toys. | Make sure to flush down the toilet paper after use. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of, appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of | flush down the toilet, flush down waste, flush down water, flush down debris, flush down food |
| Antonyms | full, occupied, loaded | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'emptied' instead of 'empty' for describing a current state., Saying 'an emptyness' instead of 'emptiness' when referring to the state of being empty. | Confused with 'flush away', which has a similar but different meaning., Using intransitively, as in 'I flush down' without specifying an object., Not using the correct context; it's often used informally. |
| Usage notes | 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'. | Use in contexts related to toilets or cleaning. Avoid in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Empty vs Flush down
What's the difference between Empty and Flush down?
Empty: Having nothing inside it. Flush down: To send waste away with water, usually in a toilet.
Which is more common: Empty and Flush down?
Empty is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Empty: The box was empty, so I decided to fill it with toys. Flush down: Make sure to flush down the toilet paper after use.
Can I use Empty and Flush down interchangeably?
Not always. Empty and Flush down 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.