Hollow vs. Shallow — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 26, 2023
Hollow refers to an empty space inside; Shallow describes lack of depth. "The tree is hollow." vs. "The pool is shallow."
Difference Between Hollow and Shallow
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Key Differences
Hollow often describes something that has an empty space inside. This can be either because it was designed that way or because it has been worn out or decayed over time. Shallow, on the other hand, is typically used to describe something that does not have much depth.
In terms of physical structures, a hollow log would be a log with a void or cavity inside. A shallow pond would mean that the water doesn’t go very deep, possibly allowing one to see the bottom or walk across with ease.
Hollow can also describe feelings. For example, a "hollow victory" implies a win that feels empty or unsatisfying. In contrast, shallow can describe a person's personality or character, indicating they lack depth or substance.
When it comes to sounds, a hollow sound might echo, like the noise made when knocking on a hollow door. A shallow breath, however, is one that is not deep, potentially indicating difficulty breathing or a light sleep.
While both terms describe a lack or absence of something, hollow usually pertains to a void within a structure or feeling, while shallow primarily describes a lack of depth or substance.
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Comparison Chart
Basic Definition
Having an empty space inside.
Lacking depth.
Related to Emotion
Can describe feelings that lack true emotion or substance.
Can describe superficial or lacking depth emotions.
Sound Descriptions
Often echoes, e.g., a hollow thud.
Can describe faintness, e.g., a shallow breath.
Physical Structures
Describes objects with cavities, e.g., a hollow log.
Describes areas or objects with minimal depth, e.g., a shallow pool.
Character/Personality
Can describe someone insincere or not genuine.
Describes a person who is superficial or lacks depth.
Compare with Definitions
Hollow
Having an empty space inside.
The hollow tube allowed liquids to pass through.
Shallow
Lacking depth; not deep.
The kids played in the shallow end of the pool.
Hollow
Lacking in real value or significance.
His apology felt hollow after his repeated mistakes.
Shallow
Lacking seriousness or depth of character.
He found the movie plot to be shallow and predictable.
Hollow
Resonating sound as if produced in a void.
The drum produced a hollow sound when struck.
Shallow
Superficial or slight.
She only had a shallow understanding of the topic.
Hollow
Devoid of truth or sincerity.
Her promises were hollow and could not be trusted.
Shallow
Measuring little from bottom to top or surface; lacking physical depth.
Hollow
Having a cavity, gap, or space within
A hollow wall.
Shallow
Lacking depth of intellect, emotion, or knowledge
"This is a shallow parody of America" (Lloyd Rose).
Hollow
Deeply indented or concave; sunken
"His bearded face already has a set, hollow look" (Conor Cruise O'Brien).
Shallow
Marked by insufficient inhalation of air; weak
Shallow respirations.
Hollow
Without substance or character
A hollow person.
Shallow
In the part of a playing area that is closer to home plate
Shallow left field.
Hollow
Devoid of truth or validity; specious
"Theirs is at best a hollow form of flattery" (Annalyn Swan).
Shallow
Often shallows A part of a body of water of little depth; a shoal
Abandoned the boat in the shallows.
Hollow
Having a reverberating, sepulchral sound
Hollow footsteps.
Shallow
To make or become shallow.
Hollow
A cavity, gap, or space
A hollow behind a wall.
Shallow
Having little depth; significantly less deep than wide.
This crater is relatively shallow.
Saute the onions in a shallow pan.
Hollow
An indented or concave surface or area.
Shallow
Extending not far downward.
The water is shallow here.
Hollow
A void; an emptiness
A hollow in one's life.
Shallow
Concerned mainly with superficial matters.
It was a glamorous but shallow lifestyle.
Hollow
A small valley between hills or mountains.
Shallow
Lacking interest or substance.
The acting is good, but the characters are shallow.
Hollow
To make hollow
Hollow out a pumpkin.
Shallow
Not intellectually deep; not penetrating deeply; simple; not wise or knowing.
Shallow learning
Hollow
To scoop or form by making concave
Hollow out a nest in the sand.
Shallow
(obsolete) Not deep in tone.
Hollow
To become hollow or empty.
Shallow
(tennis) Not far forward, close to the net.
Hollow
A small valley between mountains.
He built himself a cabin in a hollow high up in the Rockies.
Shallow
(angles) Not steep; close to horizontal.
A shallow climb; a shallow descent; a shallow bank angle
Hollow
A sunken area or unfilled space in something solid; a cavity, natural or artificial.
The hollow of the hand or of a tree
Shallow
A shallow portion of an otherwise deep body of water.
The ship ran aground in an unexpected shallow.
Hollow
(figuratively) A feeling of emptiness.
A hollow in the pit of one’s stomach
Shallow
A fish, the rudd.
Hollow
(US) A sunken area.
Shallow
(historical) A costermonger's barrow.
Hollow
(transitive) to make a hole in something; to excavate
Shallow
(ambitransitive) To make or become less deep.
Hollow
To call or urge by shouting; to hollo.
Shallow
Not deep; having little depth; shoal.
Hollow
(of something solid) Having an empty space or cavity inside.
A hollow tree; a hollow sphere
Shallow
Not deep in tone.
The sound perfecter and not so shallow and jarring.
Hollow
(of a sound) Distant, eerie; echoing, reverberating, as if in a hollow space; dull, muffled; often low-pitched.
He let out a hollow moan.
Shallow
Not intellectually deep; not profound; not penetrating deeply; simple; not wise or knowing; ignorant; superficial; as, a shallow mind; shallow learning.
The king was neither so shallow, nor so ill advertised, as not to perceive the intention of the French king.
Deep versed in books, and shallow in himself.
Hollow
(figuratively) Without substance; having no real or significant worth; meaningless.
A hollow victory
Shallow
A place in a body of water where the water is not deep; a shoal; a flat; a shelf.
A swift stream is not heard in the channel, but upon shallows of gravel.
Dashed on the shallows of the moving sand.
Hollow
(figuratively) Insincere, devoid of validity; specious.
A hollow promise
Shallow
The rudd.
Hollow
Concave; gaunt; sunken.
Shallow
To make shallow.
Hollow
(gymnastics) Pertaining to hollow body position
Shallow
To become shallow, as water.
Hollow
(colloquial) Completely, as part of the phrase beat hollow or beat all hollow.
Shallow
A stretch of shallow water
Hollow
Alternative form of hollo
Shallow
Make shallow;
The silt shallowed the canal
Hollow
Having an empty space or cavity, natural or artificial, within a solid substance; not solid; excavated in the interior; as, a hollow tree; a hollow sphere.
Hollow with boards shalt thou make it.
Shallow
Become shallow;
The lake shallowed over time
Hollow
Depressed; concave; gaunt; sunken.
With hollow eye and wrinkled brow.
Shallow
Lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center;
Shallow water
A shallow dish
A shallow cut
A shallow closet
Established a shallow beachhead
Hit the ball to shallow left field
Hollow
Reverberated from a cavity, or resembling such a sound; deep; muffled; as, a hollow roar.
Shallow
Not deep or strong; not affecting one deeply;
Shallow breathing
A night of shallow fretful sleep
In a shallow trance
Hollow
Not sincere or faithful; false; deceitful; not sound; as, a hollow heart; a hollow friend.
Shallow
Lacking depth of intellect or knowledge; concerned only with what is obvious;
Shallow people
His arguments seemed shallow and tedious
Hollow
A cavity, natural or artificial; an unfilled space within anything; a hole, a cavern; an excavation; as the hollow of the hand or of a tree.
Shallow
Not reaching far downward.
He planted the seeds in shallow soil.
Hollow
A low spot surrounded by elevations; a depressed part of a surface; a concavity; a channel.
Forests grewUpon the barren hollows.
I hate the dreadful hollow behind the little wood.
Shallow
Of little depth.
The boat ran aground in shallow waters.
Hollow
To make hollow, as by digging, cutting, or engraving; to excavate.
Hollow
To shout; to hollo.
Whisperings and hollowings are alike to a deaf ear.
Hollow
To urge or call by shouting.
He has hollowed the hounds.
Hollow
Hollo.
Hollow
A cavity or space in something;
Hunger had caused the hollows in their cheeks
Hollow
A small valley between mountains;
He built himself a cabin in a hollow high up in the Appalachians
Hollow
A depression hollowed out of solid matter
Hollow
Remove the inner part or the core of;
The mining company wants to excavate the hillsite
Hollow
Remove the interior of;
Hollow out a tree trunk
Hollow
Not solid; having a space or gap or cavity;
A hollow wall
A hollow tree
Hollow cheeks
His face became gaunter and more hollow with each year
Hollow
Deliberately deceptive;
Hollow (or false) promises
False pretenses
Hollow
As if echoing in a hollow space;
The hollow sound of footsteps in the empty ballroom
Hollow
Devoid of significance or point;
Empty promises
A hollow victory
Vacuous comments
Hollow
Sunken or deep-set.
After days without sleep, his eyes appeared hollow.
Common Curiosities
Can I use hollow to describe feelings?
Yes, like a "hollow victory" which feels empty or unsatisfying.
Can something be both hollow and shallow?
Potentially, like a pool with hollow sides but also lacking in water depth.
What does a hollow sound indicate?
It often indicates a resonance as if produced in a void, like knocking on a hollow door.
What's the opposite of shallow?
Deep.
Can a breath be described as hollow?
Not typically. Breaths are usually described as shallow or deep, not hollow.
Are "shallow waters" and "hollow waters" interchangeable?
No. "Shallow waters" mean waters that aren’t deep. "Hollow waters" isn't a common phrase.
Can hollow describe something physically concave?
Yes, like "hollow cheeks" which are sunken or concave.
Do hollow and shallow mean the same thing?
No, hollow means having an empty space inside, while shallow refers to lacking depth.
How does shallow relate to depth in physical terms?
Shallow describes areas or objects with minimal depth, like a shallow dish or a shallow stream.
Is it correct to say "hollow depth"?
It's not commonly used, but might imply an insincere or artificial depth.
Is a "shallow promise" similar to a "hollow promise"?
They're similar in suggesting insincerity, but hollow implies emptiness while shallow implies lack of depth or substance.
Can shallow be used to describe knowledge?
Yes, someone with "shallow knowledge" only knows the basics without depth.
Is a hollow object necessarily fragile?
Not necessarily, an object's durability depends on its material and construction, not just its hollowness.
Can an argument or reasoning be described as hollow?
Yes, it would suggest the argument lacks substance or validity.
Can shallow describe a person's character?
Yes, a "shallow person" might be considered superficial or lacking depth of character.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
