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A single word for not-full

English Language & Usage Asked by An old senile guy on May 21, 2021

I find myself struggling to find a single non-hyphenated word that expresses the state between empty and full, assuming the container started off empty.

I want to emphasize on the state of being ‘not-full’. So I am not allowed to use ‘nonempty’.

The word can’t be ‘depleted’ because it assumes a container that was once full, and now has ‘lessened’ and became nonempty or empty. The word I am looking for should assume a container that started off empty, and now is half-full.

Example context:

  • We add the grains to a _____ silo.
  • I put the box in a _____ warehouse.
  • He parked the car in a _____ car park.

The closest word I can think of is ‘unfull’ but it isn’t really a word. Is there a single non-hyphenated word that can express such state?

3 Answers

I would conciser one of the following for your particular case:

  • Capacious
  • Ample


In review, capacious seems particularly applicable in this specific context as based on the definition from www.dictionary.com:

Capacious: Capable of holding much; spacious or roomy.
For example: "A capacious storage bin."

But I think the key here is to realize that the magnitude qualifier is dependent on the specific context.

You would probably not use a word like "empty" or "full" to describe the air contents of a balloon. In such case you would probably more likely use "deflated" or "inflated". The fact that "empty" or "full" are generally quite broadly applicable does not necessarily imply that there exists a word in between that is also broadly applicable. Though perhaps it should, if indeed it does not yet exist. Definitely an interesting situation.

Cheers,
Arty


Edit: Swapped in two new word suggestions that might fit more appropriately for the given context than the ones originally suggested ("growing" and "developing").

Answered by Arty Stable on May 21, 2021

I think "unfilled" would work:

  • My bottle is unfilled.
  • No unfilled spaces have been found.

unfilled

not filled

  • an unfilled bottle
  • unfilled spaces
  • a vacancy left unfilled
  • an unfilled order

Merriam-Webster

Answered by Justin on May 21, 2021

In the examples given by the OP, there is, in fact, no extra word required:

We add the grains to a silo.

I put the box in a warehouse.

He parked the car in a car park.

The fact of 'adding' 'putting' and 'parking' includes the information that there was space there in which to 'add' 'put' or 'park'.

That is why we have no word for the concept. That is why the English language has developed without a word to express what the OP is trying to express.

Language develops from concepts.

Answered by Nigel J on May 21, 2021

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