hollow

Formshollower, hollowest

Formshollows, hollowing, hollowed

Pluralhollows

1. 1
   empty coreadjective

   Empty inside, having a space or hole in the middle.

   Like a pipe that is empty all the way through the middle.

   The chocolate egg was hollow inside.

   A drinking straw is just a hollow tube.

   Similarempty

   Oppositesolid, full, filled

2. 2
   worthlessadjectivefiguratively

   Not real or sincere. Seeming important or true but actually empty or worthless.

   Like a gift box that looks nice but has nothing inside.

   It was a hollow win because the best players were not there.

   The award felt hollow after the team cheated to win.

   UsageOften a hollow win or a hollow promise. Words can ring hollow.

   Similarempty, meaningless, worthless, insincere, pointless

   Oppositemeaningful, genuine, sincere

3. 3
   scoop outverbtransitive

   To make a hole or empty space inside something.

   Like scooping out the inside of a pumpkin.

   They hollow the logs to make canoes.

   Workers hollowed the rock to build a tunnel.

   UsageOften hollow out: hollow out a pumpkin.

   Similarexcavate, carve, scoop, gouge, dig

   Oppositefill

4. 4
   sunken spotnouncountable

   A low or sunken spot on a surface.

   Like the dip your head leaves in a soft pillow.

   Rain filled the hollow in the muddy path.

   She rested the ball in a small hollow on the lawn.

   UsageSay the hollow of your hand.

   Similardepression, dip, dent, indentation, sag

   Oppositebump, mound, hump

   Note
5. 5
   hole insidenouncountable

   An empty space or hole inside something solid.

   Like the empty space scooped out inside a bowl.

   He kept a spare key in a hollow inside the fake rock.

   The squirrel hid its nuts in a hollow of the old tree.

   Similarcavity, hole, pit, recess, void

6. 6
   dull (sound)adjective

   Sounding deep, dull, and echoing, like a noise made in an empty room.

   Like the deep echo you hear inside a big empty barrel.

   His footsteps made a hollow sound in the empty hall.

   The big drum gave a deep, hollow boom.

   UsageSay a hollow sound or a hollow knock.

   Similardull, muffled, resonant, deep

   Note
7. 7
   small valleynouncountable

   A small valley between hills or mountains.

   Like a bowl-shaped dip in the land between two hills.

   They built a cabin down in the hollow.

   A clear stream ran through the green hollow.

   Similarvalley, dell, glen, dale, vale

   Note
8. 8
   sunken faceadjective

   Sunken inward, like thin cheeks or very tired eyes.

   Like cheeks that sink in when you suck them inward.

   His cheeks looked hollow after the long illness.

   Her hollow eyes showed how little she had slept.

   Similarsunken, gaunt, drawn, haggard

   Oppositefull, plump, chubby

   Note
9. 9
   empty feelingnounfigurativelycountable

   A sad, empty feeling inside you.

   Like the empty feeling in your stomach when you miss someone.

   After they left, she felt a hollow in her chest.

   Grief left a hollow that nothing could fill.

   Similarvoid, emptiness, vacuum

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