shallow

American  

[shal-oh] / ˈʃæl oʊ /

adjective

shallower, shallowest

1. of little depth; not deep.

   shallow water.

2. lacking depth; superficial.

   a mind that is not narrow but shallow.

3. taking in a relatively small amount of air in each inhalation.

   shallow breathing.

4. Baseball. relatively close to home plate.

   The shortstop caught the pop fly in shallow left field.

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noun

1. (used with a singular or plural verb) Usually shallows. a shallow part of a body of water; shoal.

adverb

1. Baseball. at a shallow position.

   With the pitcher up, the outfielders played shallow.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become shallow.

shallow British  

/ ˈʃæləʊ /

adjective

1. having little depth

2. lacking intellectual or mental depth or subtlety; superficial

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noun

1. (often plural) a shallow place in a body of water; shoal

verb

1. to make or become shallow

Other Word Forms

• shallowly adverb
• shallowness noun

Etymology

Origin of shallow

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English schalowe (adjective); akin to Old English sceald “shallow” ( shoal ¹ )

Example Sentences

Any pullbacks in energy stocks have been shallow and short-lived, technical analysis shows, reinforcing the underlying demand and keeping the sector as a clear market leader.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

However, scientists have long believed that these kinds of microbial wrinkle structures only formed in shallow environments.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

Experts believe it's a young male that may have accidentally wandered into shallow waters.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Perhaps the simplest solution is to explicitly require outfielders to play more shallow by drawing a line they cannot stand behind.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

“There is no question,” continued Malone, “that this earthquake is located directly under the volcano, slightly to the north of the summit, and at a very shallow depth!”

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone

Related Words

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• foolish
• frothy
• hollow
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