see the glass half-empty

verb

To focus on what one does not have instead of what one has; to focus on the negative aspects of a situation; to adopt a pessimistic attitude towards life in general.

Opposite
see the glass half-full
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Meanings

verbsee the glass half-empty (third-person singular simple present sees the glass half-empty, present participle seeing the glass half-empty, simple past saw the glass half-empty, past participle seen the glass half-empty)

present singular third person sees the glass half-empty · participle present seeing the glass half-empty · past saw the glass half-empty · participle past seen the glass half-empty

  1. figurativelyTo focus on what one does not have instead of what one has; to focus on the negative aspects of a situation; to adopt a pessimistic attitude towards life in general.

    Antonyms: see the glass half-full

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo focus on what one does not have instead of what one has; to focus on the negative aspects of a situation; to adopt a pessimistic attitude towards life in general.

Opposite
see the glass half-full

Translations

Finnish nähdä lasi puoliksi tyhjänä, keskittyä huonoon
  • nähdä lasi puoliksi tyhjänäTranslations
  • keskittyä huonoonTranslations
French voir le verre à moitié vide
  • voir le verre à moitié videTranslations
Polish myśleć pesymistycznie
  • myśleć pesymistycznieTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

see the glass half-empty. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/see%20the%20glass%20half-empty

MLA

“see the glass half-empty.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/see%20the%20glass%20half-empty. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “see the glass half-empty,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/see%20the%20glass%20half-empty.

Source: see the glass half-empty on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.