hollow

American  

[hol-oh] / ˈhɒl oʊ /

adjective

hollower, hollowest

1. having a space or cavity inside; not solid; empty.

   a hollow sphere.

2. having a depression or concavity.

   a hollow surface.

3. sunken, as the cheeks or eyes.

4. (of sound) not resonant; dull, muffled, or deep.

   a hollow voice.

5. without real or significant worth; meaningless.

   a hollow victory.

   Synonyms:

   pointless, futile, empty, vain

6. insincere or false.

   hollow compliments.

7. hungry; having an empty feeling.

   I feel absolutely hollow, so let's eat.

---

noun

1. an empty space within anything; a hole, depression, or cavity.

2. a valley.

   They took the sheep to graze in the hollow.

3. Foundry. a concavity connecting two surfaces otherwise intersecting at an obtuse angle.

verb (used with object)

1. to make hollow (often followed byout ).

   to hollow out a log.

2. to form by making something hollow (often followed byout ).

   to hollow a place in the sand;

   boats hollowed out of logs.

verb (used without object)

1. to become hollow.

adverb

1. in a hollow manner.

   The politician's accusations rang hollow.

idioms

1. beat all hollow, to surpass or outdo completely: Also beat hollow.

   His performance beat the others all hollow.

hollow British  

/ ˈhɒləʊ /

adjective

1. having a hole, cavity, or space within; not solid

2. having a sunken area; concave

3. recessed or deeply set

   hollow cheeks

4. (of sounds) as if resounding in a hollow place

5. without substance or validity

6. hungry or empty

7. insincere; cynical

8. the capacity to eat or drink a lot without ill effects

---

adverb

1. informal to defeat someone thoroughly and convincingly

noun

1. a cavity, opening, or space in or within something

2. a depression or dip in the land

verb

1. to make or become hollow

2. to form (a hole, cavity, etc) or (of a hole, etc) to be formed

hollow More Idioms  

1. see beat the pants off (hollow).

---

Other Word Forms

• half-hollow adjective
• hollowly adverb
• hollowness noun
• unhollow adjective
• unhollowed adjective

Etymology

Origin of hollow

First recorded before 900; Middle English holow, holw(e), Old English holh “a hollow place”; akin to hole

Example Sentences

The original sense of “bottom” survives in many words related to “fund,” including foundation, fundamental, profound and the medical term fundus, the area of a hollow organ that is farthest away from the organ’s opening.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

The bulky toy was holding a hollow, polka-dotted egg.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

"This is the Zygopush," Marvin tells me, while pressing his thumbs directly under his cheekbones and massaging upwards towards his ears in an attempt to hollow out his cheeks.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

Like “Bridgerton,” our “Heated Rivalry” obsession is related to a hollow longing for connection pervading society right now.

From Salon • Mar. 4, 2026

“Sure,” Jack says, but his voice sounds hollow.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day

Related Words

• empty
• fruitless
• futile
• pointless
• useless
• worthless