Cool MateEmpty vs We're out of it
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Empty
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
We're out of it
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Empty
| Empty | We're out of it | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈempti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈempti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wɪə əʊt əv ɪt//🇺🇸 //wɪr aʊt əv ɪt// |
| Meaning | Having nothing inside it. | We no longer have it. |
| Example | The box was empty, so I decided to fill it with toys. | Sorry, but we're out of it at the moment. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| 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 | be out of stock, run out of it, out of options |
| 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 'we are out of here' (indicating leaving), Using in contexts where specific items should be mentioned, Assuming it applies only to physical items, not abstract concepts |
| 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 this to politely inform someone that a particular item is no longer available. It is suitable for both casual and formal contexts, but may be too vague in technical or specific discussions. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Empty vs We're out of it
What's the difference between Empty and We're out of it?
Empty: Having nothing inside it. We're out of it: We no longer have it.
Which is more common: Empty and We're out of it?
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. We're out of it: Sorry, but we're out of it at the moment.
Can I use Empty and We're out of it interchangeably?
Not always. Empty and We're out of it 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.