hollow

[ hol-oh ]

/ ˈhɒl oʊ /

See synonyms for: hollow / hollowed / hollowness on Thesaurus.com

adjective, hol·low·er, hol·low·est.

having a space or cavity inside; not solid; empty: a hollow sphere.

having a depression or concavity: a hollow surface.

sunken, as the cheeks or eyes.

(of sound) not resonant; dull, muffled, or deep: a hollow voice.

without real or significant worth; meaningless: a hollow victory.

insincere or false: hollow compliments.

hungry; having an empty feeling: I feel absolutely hollow, so let's eat.

noun

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

a valley: They took the sheep to graze in the hollow.

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

verb (used with object)

to make hollow (often followed by out): to hollow out a log.

to form by making something hollow (often followed by out): to hollow a place in the sand; boats hollowed out of logs.

verb (used without object)

to become hollow.

adverb

in a hollow manner: The politician's accusations rang hollow.

SYNONYMS FOR hollow

5 vain, empty, futile, pointless.

See synonyms for hollow on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

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Are you learning Spanish? Or do you just have an interest in foreign languages? Either way, this quiz on Spanish words for animals is for you.

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Idioms for hollow

beat all hollow, to surpass or outdo completely: His performance beat the others all hollow.Also beat hollow.

Origin of hollow

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

OTHER WORDS FROM hollow

hol·low·ly, adverbhol·low·ness, nounhalf-hollow, adjectiveun·hol·low, adjective

un·hol·lowed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for hollow

While virtual networking meet ups have become common and create space for less formal conversation, agency execs say that at times it can feel hollow as people are sharing their stories but there’s no need to connect further.
‘It used to be so easy’: How networking has been reshaped by the coronavirus|Kristina Monllos|December 31, 2020|Digiday
Yes, there is less money in the market, but his outreach to clients via Zoom has been a hollow exercise and says he’s counting the days to have face-to-face meetings again, to travel again, to wear a suit again — to close really big deals again.
‘No is not an option’: Confessions of a sales executive|jim cooper|December 29, 2020|Digiday
When something tastes exactly the same as it has for days or weeks, except no longer good, it feels like reality has gotten hollowed out a tiny bit, and that more could be coming.
20 Days of Turkey|Meghan McCarron|December 23, 2020|Eater
If this is too hard, eliminate the rocking motion for a static hollow-body hold.
This 10-Move Core Workout Will Kick Your Ass|Hayden Carpenter|December 21, 2020|Outside Online

In 1926, Margaret Barnes of Manchester, England, was rifling through her deceased husband’s belongings when she came upon a hollowed-out eggshell.
Would You Write Your Last Will and Testament on a Napkin?|Fiona Zublin|December 16, 2020|Ozy
Locals call it the hollowing out of the city into an empty theme park.
The Big Idea: How Tourism Can Destroy the Places We Love|Elizabeth Becker|July 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Takeovers of foreign companies and government intervention in the markets have spooked investors, hollowing out key industries.
After the Presidential Election, a Tough Road for Hugo Chávez|Mac Margolis|October 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It was a dugout or canoe, made by hollowing with axe and adz a section of a cucumber tree.
A Dream of Empire|William Henry Venable
They were formed by hollowing out two trunks of trees, which were sewn together in the centre.
Great African Travellers|W.H.G. Kingston
The Jet Ant (Formica fuliginosa) excavates wood, hollowing out its labyrinth in the trunk of a tree with consummate skill.
The Insect World|Louis Figuier
Who can tell the immense sums expended in hollowing out the living rock of Gibraltar?
Charles Sumner; his complete works, volume 1 (of 20)|Charles Sumner
The Yankee took the adze from his hand before he could speak, and set about hollowing troughs very rapidly.
Cedar Creek|Elizabeth Hely Walshe

British Dictionary definitions for hollow

hollow

/ (ˈhɒləʊ) /

adjective

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

having a sunken area; concave

recessed or deeply sethollow cheeks

(of sounds) as if resounding in a hollow place

without substance or validity

hungry or empty

insincere; cynical

a hollow leg or hollow legs the capacity to eat or drink a lot without ill effects

adverb

beat someone hollow British informal to defeat someone thoroughly and convincingly

noun

a cavity, opening, or space in or within something

a depression or dip in the land

verb (often foll by out, usually when tr)

to make or become hollow

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

Derived forms of hollow

hollowly, adverbhollowness, noun

Word Origin for hollow

C12: from holu, inflected form of Old English holh cave; related to Old Norse holr, German hohl; see hole

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

Idioms and Phrases with hollow

hollow

see beat the pants off (hollow).

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hollow

adjective, hol·low·er, hol·low·est.

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

adverb

SYNONYMS FOR hollow

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Idioms for hollow

Origin of hollow

OTHER WORDS FROM hollow

Example sentences from the Web for hollow

British Dictionary definitions for hollow

adjective

adverb

noun

verb (often foll by out, usually when tr)

Derived forms of hollow

Word Origin for hollow

Idioms and Phrases with hollow

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

hollow

adjective, hol·low·er, hol·low·est.

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

adverb

SYNONYMS FOR hollow

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Idioms for hollow

Origin of hollow

OTHER WORDS FROM hollow

Words related to hollow

Example sentences from the Web for hollow

British Dictionary definitions for hollow

adjective

adverb

noun

verb (often foll by out, usually when tr)

Derived forms of hollow

Word Origin for hollow

Idioms and Phrases with hollow