dict.fromkeys directly solves the problem:

Copy>>> dict.fromkeys([1, 2, 3, 4])
{1: None, 2: None, 3: None, 4: None}

This is actually a classmethod, so it works for dict-subclasses (like collections.defaultdict) as well.

The optional second argument, which defaults to None, specifies the value to use for the keys. Note that the same object will be used for each key, which can cause problems with mutable values:

Copy>>> x = dict.fromkeys([1, 2, 3, 4], [])
>>> x[1].append('test')
>>> x
{1: ['test'], 2: ['test'], 3: ['test'], 4: ['test']}

If this is unacceptable, see How can I initialize a dictionary whose values are distinct empty lists? for a workaround.

dictionary keys are "unique" - so you are overwriting the previous entry each time. >>> quotes = {} >>> quotes['author'] = 'quote1' >>> quotes {'author': 'quote1'} >>> quotes['author'] = 'quote2' >>> quotes {'author': 'quote2'} Perhaps you want a list of dicts? [ { 'author': 'quote1' }, { 'author': 'quote2' }, ... ]

You can use collections.defaultdict for a nested dictionary, where you define an initial value of a dictionary

from collections import defaultdict

#Use the initial value as a dictionary
dct = defaultdict(dict)

dct['a']['b'] = 'c'
dct['d']['e'] = 'f'

print(dct)

The output will be

defaultdict(<class 'dict'>, {'a': {'b': 'c'}, 'd': {'e': 'f'}})

"The correct answer is dict(). Key Points dict() is a built-in Python function used to create an empty dictionary. An empty dictionary is a data structure that can store key-value pairs but starts with no data. It is created using the syntax dict() or {} in Python. Dictionaries are mutable, meaning you can add, update, or delete key-value pairs after creation. They are widely used in Python programming for various purposes like data organization and quick lookups. Additional Information Other Options: []: This creates an empty list, not a dictionary. {}: This also creates an empty dictionary in Python, similar to dict(). set(): This creates an empty set, not a dictionary. empty_dict(): This is not a valid Python function for creating an empty dictionary. Examples of Creating Dictionaries: Empty Dictionary: my_dict = dict() or my_dict = {} Dictionary with Data: my_dict = {key1: value1, key2: value2} Advantages of Using Dictionaries: Allow for fast lookups by keys, making them ideal for storing and retrieving data quickly. Support various data types for keys and values, providing flexibility. Enable easy data manipulation, such as adding or removing items. Important Points: Dictionaries are unordered prior to Python 3.7, but they maintain insertion order in Python 3.7 and later. Keys in a dictionary must be immutable and unique, while values can be of any type and duplicated. Using appropriate keys and values is essential for efficient and effective dictionary usage."