nothingness

Nothingness refers to the absence or lack of anything, including existence, matter, or even thought. It's like an empty space that has no substance.

When we talk about nothingness, it usually means something isn't there at all - no person, thing, idea, or feeling exists. People might refer to a long, boring wait as being in a state of nothingness. If you're stuck on hold with a phone call and just listening to silence, that's an example of nothingness too. Philosophers and writers often explore the concept of nothingness in more abstract ways, like discussing what would happen if everything suddenly ceased to exist.

It's worth noting that the word "nothing" can also be used as a verb, which means to get rid of something or eliminate it completely. For example, you could say "I'm going to nothing this old closet full of junk." In this case, you're removing the contents altogether, so they cease to exist.