hollow
HO-loh
Hollow (noun) means a small valley or dip between hills, or a sunken area on a surface. Example: “The deer slept in a hollow in the long grass beside the path.”
noun
1
A small valley or dip between hills, or a sunken area on a surface.
"The deer slept in a hollow in the long grass beside the path."
"The old cottage sat in a hollow between two hills."
"Rainwater collected in a hollow in the rock."
2
An empty space or cavity inside something.
"The owl nested in a hollow high up in the old oak."
"He hid the spare key in a hollow behind the loose brick."
"Squirrels stored acorns in a hollow in the tree trunk."
adj
1
Having an empty space inside; not solid.
"Bamboo canes are hollow, which makes them light and easy to carry."
"The statue was hollow, not cast from solid bronze."
"A hollow chocolate egg looks bigger than it is."
2
Insincere or lacking real meaning or substance.
"The politician's smile looked hollow, and nobody believed his kind words."
"His apology felt hollow because he kept making the same excuse."
"Their promises of reform turned out to be hollow."
verb
1
To dig or carve out a hole or cavity in something.
"The woodpecker hollowed a nest in the dead tree over several weeks."
"Water has slowly hollowed out a cave in the cliff."
"They hollowed out a pumpkin to make a lantern."
How to use hollow
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEmpty inside — either literally (a hollow tree) or figuratively (a hollow promise that has no real substance behind it).
Common mistake
Don't confuse the adjective (empty inside) with the figurative sense (insincere) — a hollow log is literal, a hollow apology is emotional.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
hollow tree
hollow promise
hollow victory
hollow out
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Word forms
- Plural
- hollows
- Third person singular
- hollows
- Past tense
- hollowed
- Comparative
- hollower
- Superlative
- hollowest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The deer slept in a _____ in the long grass beside the path.
Etymology
From Old English holh, "a hollow place," ultimately going back to a very old Germanic root also connected to the word "hole."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for hollow
See all rhymes for hollow →Frequently asked questions
What does “hollow” mean?
The word “hollow” means a small valley or dip between hills, or a sunken area on a surface. In plain terms, empty inside — either literally (a hollow tree) or figuratively (a hollow promise that has no real substance behind it).
How do you pronounce “hollow”?
“Hollow” is pronounced HO-loh (/ˈhɑloʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “hollow” in a sentence?
Here is “hollow” used in a sentence: “The old cottage sat in a hollow between two hills.”
What part of speech is “hollow”?
Depending on how it is used, “hollow” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “hollow” come from?
The word “hollow” comes from Old English. From Old English holh, "a hollow place," ultimately going back to a very old Germanic root also connected to the word "hole.".
Is “hollow” a common word?
“Hollow” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “hollow” have?
“Hollow” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small valley or dip between hills, or a sunken area on a surface.
What is the difference between "hollow" and "empty"?
Both suggest a lack of contents, but "hollow" specifically describes something with an empty space inside a solid outer form, such as a hollow tree or a hollow chocolate egg. "Empty" simply means containing nothing, so a glass can be empty without being hollow.
What is the difference between "hollow" and "hallow"?
Despite the similar spelling, they are unrelated. "Hollow" means having an empty space inside, or a small valley between hills, while "hallow" is a verb meaning to make holy or honour as sacred, as in "hallowed ground."
When is "hollow" used to describe words or feelings?
Beyond physical objects, "hollow" describes something insincere or lacking real substance, as in a "hollow promise," "hollow victory," or "hollow laugh." In this figurative sense it suggests the outward form is present but the genuine meaning behind it is missing.
What are common collocations with "hollow"?
Frequent pairings include "hollow victory," "hollow promise," "hollow cheeks," and "hollow log." The idiom "beat someone hollow" means to defeat them completely and decisively.
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