Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Having an empty space inside; not solid: Describes an object or area that has a cavity or gap within it.
   • Sunken or curved inward: Describes a surface that is deeply indented or concave.
   • Lacking real value, sincerity, or substance; meaningless: Describes words, feelings, or victories that are superficial or false.

2. Noun:

   • A hole or depressed area in a surface: A low area or dip in the ground or in a solid object.
   • A small valley or basin: A low-lying area between hills or mountains.

3. Verb:

   • To make something hollow; to remove the inner part: To create a cavity or empty space within something.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The old tree was hollow inside. (The tree trunk had an empty space within it.)
  • Her cheeks looked hollow after her illness. (Her cheeks appeared sunken and thin.)
  • His apology sounded hollow and insincere. (His apology seemed meaningless and not genuine.)

• Noun:

  • The rabbit hid in a hollow at the base of the tree. (The rabbit hid in a small depression by the tree.)
  • They lived in a secluded hollow in the mountains. (They lived in a small, sheltered valley.)

• Verb:

  • He used a knife to hollow out the pumpkin for the jack-o'-lantern. (He used a knife to remove the pumpkin's inner flesh and seeds.)

Advanced Usage

• "To ring hollow": To sound false or insincere.

  • His promises of reform ring hollow after so many years of inaction. (His promises seem meaningless given his past behavior.)

• "A hollow victory": A win or success that has no real value or benefit, often because it was too easy or came at too great a cost.

  • Winning the lawsuit felt like a hollow victory because the legal fees ruined her financially.

Variants and Related Words

• Hollowly (adverb): In a hollow manner; without sincerity.
  • He laughed hollowly, betraying his true sadness.
• Hollowness (noun): The state or quality of being hollow, either physically or metaphorically.
  • The hollowness of his words was obvious to everyone.

Synonyms

• Adjective (empty): Void, vacant, unfilled.
• Adjective (sunken): Concave, indented, deep-set.
• Adjective (meaningless): Empty, vain, futile, insincere.
• Noun (hole): Depression, cavity, dip, pit.
• Verb (to empty): Gouge, scoop, excavate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Hollow out: To remove the inside of something to create a hollow space. (This is the primary and most common phrasal form of the verb).
  • The settlers hollowed out logs to make canoes. (The settlers removed the wood from inside logs to create canoes.)

Related Idioms

• "To beat someone hollow": (British English) To defeat someone completely and utterly.
  • Our team beat them hollow in the final match. (Our team defeated them by a very large margin.)

Adjective

1. devoid of significance or point
   • empty promises
   • a hollow victory
   • vacuous comments
2. as if echoing in a hollow space
   • the hollow sound of footsteps in the empty ballroom
3. 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

Noun

1. a depression hollowed out of solid matter
2. a small valley between mountains
   • he built himself a cabin in a hollow high up in the Appalachians
3. a cavity or space in something
   • hunger had caused the hollows in their cheeks

Verb

1. remove the interior of
   • hollow out a tree trunk
2. remove the inner part or the core of
   • the mining company wants to excavate the hillside