shallow
SHA-loh
Shallow (adjective) means not deep; having little depth of water, thought, or feeling. Example: “The stream was so shallow that we could walk straight across it.”
adjective
1
Not deep; having little depth of water, thought, or feeling.
"The stream was so shallow that we could walk straight across it."
"The children played safely in the shallow end of the pool."
"His argument felt shallow and unconvincing."
noun
1
A shallow area within a body of water.
"Herons stood hunting for fish in the shallows near the bank."
"Children paddled in the warm shallows of the lake."
"The boat ran aground in the shallows."
How to use shallow
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot deep — either literally in water, or figuratively meaning superficial or lacking substance.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
shallow water
shallow end
shallow person
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Word forms
- Plural
- shallows
- Third person singular
- shallows
- Past tense
- shallowed
- Comparative
- shallower, more shallow
- Superlative
- shallowest, most shallow
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The stream was so _____ that we could walk straight across it.
Etymology
From Middle English schalowe, related to Old English sceald ("shallow").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for shallow
See all rhymes for shallow →Frequently asked questions
What does “shallow” mean?
The word “shallow” means not deep; having little depth of water, thought, or feeling. In plain terms, not deep — either literally in water, or figuratively meaning superficial or lacking substance.
How do you pronounce “shallow”?
“Shallow” is pronounced SHA-loh (/ˈʃæloʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “shallow” in a sentence?
Here is “shallow” used in a sentence: “The children played safely in the shallow end of the pool.”
What is another word for “shallow”?
Words with a similar meaning to “shallow” include superficial.
What is the opposite of “shallow”?
The opposite of “shallow” — its antonyms — is deep.
What part of speech is “shallow”?
Depending on how it is used, “shallow” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “shallow” come from?
The word “shallow” comes from Old English. From Middle English schalowe, related to Old English sceald ("shallow").
Is “shallow” a common word?
“Shallow” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between shallow and superficial?
Both words describe a lack of depth, and they overlap when describing people or thinking. Superficial emphasises staying on the surface of a subject — a superficial reading or a superficial wound — while shallow more often criticises a person's character or emotions as lacking depth.
What are "the shallows"?
The shallows are the parts of a river, lake, or sea where the water is not deep. This noun use of shallow usually appears in the plural: "Fish gather in the shallows near the shore."
Can shallow describe things other than water?
Yes. Shallow describes anything with little depth, literal or figurative: a shallow dish, shallow breathing that draws in only a little air, and shallow arguments or feelings that lack substance.
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