Synonyms Examples Word Origin
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. Show More
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. Show More
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. Show More
verb (used without object) to become hollow. Show More
in a hollow manner: The politician's accusations rang hollow. Show More
beat all hollow , to surpass or outdo completely: His performance beat the others all hollow. Also beat hollow. Show More
Origin of hollow before 900; Middle English holw(e ),
holow, Old English holh a hollow place; akin to
hole Related forms hol·low·ly , adverb hol·low·ness , noun half-hol·low , adjective un·hol·low , adjective un·hol·lowed , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for hollowness vacuousness ,
destitution ,
desolation ,
chasm ,
blank ,
gap ,
vacancy ,
barrenness ,
vacuum ,
vacuity ,
waste ,
void ,
exhaustion ,
inanity ,
inanition Examples from the Web for hollowness Contemporary Examples of hollowness But the closing of one school after another exposes the hollowness of those promises.
My voice sounded cheerful and supportive, properly concealing the hollowness I felt.
In his voluble, guns-blazing manner, Adrover made the hollowness of New York Fashion Week, which ends Thursday, apparent.
We know too much now about the hollowness of institutions and the frailty of their leaders.
Historical Examples of hollowness Laura smiled as she glanced at his face, but it was not its hollowness she was thinking of.
How can a man of your age talk of being melancholy, or of the hollowness of existence?
You are Canadian—in you I can banish the coldness, hollowness , and degeneracy of Europe.
There were no tears in his eyes, but a feeling of hollowness about his heart, and a great pain.
They gave off a muffled clink of hollowness when he tapped them.
British Dictionary definitions for hollowness having a hole, cavity, or space within; not solid having a sunken area; concave recessed or deeply set hollow 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 Show More
beat someone hollow British informal to defeat someone thoroughly and convincingly Show More
a cavity, opening, or space in or within something a depression or dip in the land Show More
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 Show More
Derived Forms hollowly , adverb hollowness , 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 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.
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v. late 14c., holowen , from hollow (adj.). Related: Hollowed ; hollowing .
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n. "lowland, valley, basin," 1550s, probably a modern formation from hollow (adj.). Old English had holh (n.) "cave, den; internal cavity."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with hollowness see beat the pants off (hollow).
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
