Cool MateEmpty vs Tip it out
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Empty
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Tip it out
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Empty
| Empty | Tip it out | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈempti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈempti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //tɪp ɪt aʊt//🇺🇸 //tɪp ɪt aʊt// |
| Meaning | Having nothing inside it. | To pour something out of a container. |
| Example | The box was empty, so I decided to fill it with toys. | He decided to tip it out on the ground. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of, appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of | tip it out carefully, tip it out completely, tip it out slowly |
| 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. | Using 'tip' without an object, e.g., 'tip it' instead of 'tip it out'., Confusing 'tip it out' with 'pour it out' - they can have slightly different connotations., Incorrectly using intransitive forms like 'he tipped out' without specifying the object. |
| 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'. | Commonly used informally to describe dumping out the contents of a container. Less often used in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Empty vs Tip it out
What's the difference between Empty and Tip it out?
Empty: Having nothing inside it. Tip it out: To pour something out of a container.
Which is more common: Empty and Tip it out?
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. Tip it out: He decided to tip it out on the ground.
Can I use Empty and Tip it out interchangeably?
Not always. Empty and Tip it out 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.