empty nester

noun

empty nest·​er -ˈne-stər How to pronounce empty nester (audio)
: a parent whose children have grown and moved away from home

Examples of empty nester in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Home theaters can also create social opportunities for individuals living alone or empty nesters with friends and neighbors during the long, cold months. Jamie Gold, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 Ed Burns officially became an empty nester this year. Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 25 Sep. 2024 The 90210 alum, who shares daughters Luca Bella, 27, Lola Ray, 21, and Fiona Eve, 17, with ex Peter Facinelli, is gearing up to be an empty nester when her daughter Fiona leaves for college next fall. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 30 July 2024 Shields, who released a documentary about her life called Pretty Baby in 2023 and whose new book Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old will hit shelves in early 2025, opened up to PEOPLE about life as an empty nester earlier this year. Jackie Fields, People.com, 29 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for empty nester 

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of empty nester was in 1958

Dictionary Entries Near empty nester

Cite this Entry

“Empty nester.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empty%20nester. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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