Empty vs Piss

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

Empty

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 adjective

Piss

Informal Top 2,000 (common)

Most formal: Empty Most common: Empty

	Empty	Piss
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈempti/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈempti/"]/	🇬🇧 //pɪs// 🇺🇸 //pɪs//
Meaning	Having nothing inside it.	to urinate
Example	The box was empty, so I decided to fill it with toys.	I really need to piss before the movie starts.
Register	Neutral	Informal
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	A2	-
Part of speech	adjective
Collocations	appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of, appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of	piss off, piss and moan, piss drunk
Antonyms	full, occupied, loaded	conserve, hold
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 'pass' when talking about urine., Overuse in polite company can be vulgar., Using as a verb without an object incorrectly.
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'.	Informal and vulgar term for urination, often used in casual contexts. Avoid in formal settings.

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

Game Of Thrones › S1 E1

I piss on Dothraki omens.

Piss

Frequently asked questions: Empty vs Piss

What's the difference between Empty and Piss?

Empty: Having nothing inside it. Piss: to urinate

Which is more formal: Empty and Piss?

Empty is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Empty and Piss?

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. Piss: I really need to piss before the movie starts.

Can I use Empty and Piss interchangeably?

Not always. Empty and Piss 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.