noun phrase · formal
empty nest syndrome
UK/ˌɛmpti nɛst ˈsɪndrəʊm/US/ˌɛmpti nɛst ˈsɪndroʊm/EM·pty NEST syn·DROME
The feelings of loneliness or sadness parents may feel when children leave home.
Examples
“Many couples experience empty nest syndrome after their children move abroad.”
“empty-nest phase”
“suffer from empty nest syndrome”
Band 8 sentence
“After their youngest child went to university, both parents reported a period of adjustment commonly known as empty nest syndrome, during which they reassessed their priorities.”
Collocations
- suffer from empty nest syndrome
- empty-nest phase
Word family
Common mistakes
empty nest problem→empty nest syndrome
feel empty nest→feel empty after the children leave
Say it for a higher band
5children left home→6kids moved out→7+empty nest syndrome
Synonyms
empty-nester
post-childrearing loneliness
Easily confused
empty-nester
“As empty-nesters, they suddenly found themselves with more free time than before.”
Related words
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In Family & Relationships
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