hollow

[ hol-oh ]

/ ˈhɒl oʊ /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hollow 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.

Nearby words

Idioms

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

SYNONYMS FOR hollow

5 vain, empty, futile, pointless.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hollow ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

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

un·hol·lowed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hollowness

But the closing of one school after another exposes the hollowness of those promises.
The West Made Lots of Promises to Afghan Girls, Now It’s Breaking Them|Heather Barr|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My voice sounded cheerful and supportive, properly concealing the hollowness I felt.
My Attack of Model Jealousy|Anonymous|February 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In his voluble, guns-blazing manner, Adrover made the hollowness of New York Fashion Week, which ends Thursday, apparent.
Designing for the One Percent at New York Fashion Week|Robin Givhan|February 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST
We know too much now about the hollowness of institutions and the frailty of their leaders.
The Naked Truth|Tina Brown|February 18, 2009|DAILY BEAST

His power is perilous in the partiality of will, and his heart full of hollowness in the protestation of love.
Character Writings of the 17th Century|Various
It seemed fast set in the boards, and gave no sound of hollowness or symptom of unsteadiness when I tried it.
Kilgorman|Talbot Baines Reed
He knew from experience the hollowness of the formula which had been invented by the priests.
The Iron Arrow Head or The Buckler Maiden|Eugne Sue
From the very first she had suspected the hollowness of its social organisation.
Garcia the Centenarian And His Times|M. Sterling Mackinlay
In those days I couldnt see the hollowness and the rottenness of it all.
John Brown|Captain R. W. Campbell

British Dictionary definitions for hollowness

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 Formshollowly, 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

Word Origin and History for hollowness (1 of 3)

hollow

adj.

c.1200, from Old English holh (n.) "hollow place, hole," from Proto-Germanic *hul-, from PIE *kel- "to cover, conceal" (see cell). The figurative sense of "insincere" is attested from 1520s. Related: Hollowly; hollowness. To carry it hollow "take it completely" is first recorded 1660s, of unknown origin or connection.

Word Origin and History for hollowness (1 of 3)

hollow

late 14c., holowen, from hollow (adj.). Related: Hollowed; hollowing.

Word Origin and History for hollowness (2 of 3)

hollow

"lowland, valley, basin," 1550s, probably a modern formation from hollow (adj.). Old English had holh (n.) "cave, den; internal cavity."

Idioms and Phrases with hollowness

hollow

see beat the pants off (hollow).

hollow

adjective, hol·low·er, hol·low·est.

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

adverb

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of hollow

Examples from the Web for hollowness

British Dictionary definitions for hollowness

hollow

adjective

adverb

noun

verb (often foll by out, usually when tr)

Word Origin for hollow

Word Origin and History for hollowness (1 of 3)

hollow

Word Origin and History for hollowness (1 of 3)

hollow

Word Origin and History for hollowness (2 of 3)

hollow

Idioms and Phrases with hollowness

hollow