hollow-eyed

American

[hol-oh-ahyd] / ˈhɒl oʊˌaɪd /

adjective

having sunken eyes.

hollow-eyed British

adjective

with the eyes appearing to be sunk into the face, as from excessive fatigue

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of hollow-eyed

First recorded in 1520–30

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The pictures show a pallid, hollow-eyed man, resembling Poe, who’s sitting by the fire in his dressing gown when there comes a gentle “rapping, rapping” at the door.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

In Munich, world leaders were left hushed and hollow-eyed, their annual security conference suddenly transformed into a wake.

From New York Times • Feb. 18, 2024

School district lawyers, contrary to popular belief and Disney Channel sitcoms are not hollow-eyed pencil pushers, who live to squelch liberty and creativity in red tape and regulation.

From Slate • Jun. 29, 2022

But by 14, Dylan is hollow-eyed, staring blankly at the camera.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 20, 2022

She was blank and hollow-eyed, and there was despair in the set of her features.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023