Hollow vs. Shallow: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 28, 2023
"Hollow" refers to a space or void inside something, while "Shallow" describes a lack of depth or superficiality.
Key Differences
"Hollow" and "Shallow" are both terms that pertain to depth, but they describe different aspects of it. "Hollow" primarily denotes an empty space inside something, suggesting a void or cavity. On the other hand, "Shallow" implies a limited depth, often used to describe surfaces not extending far downward.
A "Hollow" object, such as a log, has an interior space or cavity. This emptiness can be physical, like in a hollow tree, or metaphorical, such as a hollow promise, meaning insincere. "Shallow," meanwhile, characterizes things like ponds or personalities that lack depth. A shallow dish doesn't have much depth, just as a shallow person might be deemed superficial or lacking substance.
In terms of emotional context, "Hollow" can convey feelings of emptiness or lack of fulfillment. For instance, one might feel hollow after a loss, indicating a sense of void or absence. "Shallow," when used in emotional or character contexts, tends to denote a lack of depth, insight, or sincerity, suggesting superficiality.
Both "Hollow" and "Shallow" can serve as adjectives, but they can also function differently in a sentence. For example, "Hollow" can be a noun, as in "The hollow of the tree was home to animals." "Shallow," while not typically a noun, can be used as one in certain contexts, like "The shallows of the beach are safe for children."
When analyzing literature or artistic works, both terms can be significant. "Hollow" might symbolize emptiness, void, or a lack of essence. In contrast, "Shallow" could represent superficiality, fleeting emotions, or a surface-level understanding.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
An empty space inside something
Lacking depth
Typical Usage
Referring to cavities or voids
Describing surfaces or personalities
Emotional Connotation
Feelings of emptiness or lack of fulfillment
Superficiality or lack of substance
Grammatical Function
Can be an adjective or noun
Primarily an adjective
Contextual Application
Symbolizes emptiness or a lack of essence
Represents superficiality or surface-level
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Hollow and Shallow Definitions
Hollow
Having an empty space within.
The hollow log was home to several creatures.
Shallow
Lacking depth; not deep.
The water was shallow near the shore.
Hollow
Lacking in substance or sincerity.
His apology sounded hollow.
Shallow
Not profound or intense.
She took a shallow breath.
Hollow
Void of significance or value.
Her words felt hollow without action.
Shallow
Not intellectually deep.
His analysis was quite shallow.
Hollow
Having a cavity, gap, or space within
A hollow wall.
Shallow
Measuring little from bottom to top or surface; lacking physical depth.
Hollow
Deeply indented or concave; sunken
"His bearded face already has a set, hollow look" (Conor Cruise O'Brien).
Shallow
Lacking depth of intellect, emotion, or knowledge
"This is a shallow parody of America" (Lloyd Rose).
Hollow
Without substance or character
A hollow person.
Shallow
Marked by insufficient inhalation of air; weak
Shallow respirations.
Hollow
Devoid of truth or validity; specious
"Theirs is at best a hollow form of flattery" (Annalyn Swan).
Shallow
In the part of a playing area that is closer to home plate
Shallow left field.
Hollow
Having a reverberating, sepulchral sound
Hollow footsteps.
Shallow
Often shallows A part of a body of water of little depth; a shoal
Abandoned the boat in the shallows.
Hollow
A cavity, gap, or space
A hollow behind a wall.
Shallow
To make or become shallow.
Hollow
An indented or concave surface or area.
Shallow
Having little depth; significantly less deep than wide.
This crater is relatively shallow.
Saute the onions in a shallow pan.
Hollow
A void; an emptiness
A hollow in one's life.
Shallow
Extending not far downward.
The water is shallow here.
Hollow
A small valley between hills or mountains.
Shallow
Concerned mainly with superficial matters.
It was a glamorous but shallow lifestyle.
Hollow
To make hollow
Hollow out a pumpkin.
Shallow
Lacking interest or substance.
The acting is good, but the characters are shallow.
Hollow
To scoop or form by making concave
Hollow out a nest in the sand.
Shallow
Not intellectually deep; not penetrating deeply; simple; not wise or knowing.
Shallow learning
Hollow
To become hollow or empty.
Shallow
(obsolete) Not deep in tone.
Hollow
A small valley between mountains.
He built himself a cabin in a hollow high up in the Rockies.
Shallow
(tennis) Not far forward, close to the net.
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
(angles) Not steep; close to horizontal.
A shallow climb; a shallow descent; a shallow bank angle
Hollow
(figuratively) A feeling of emptiness.
A hollow in the pit of one’s stomach
Shallow
A shallow portion of an otherwise deep body of water.
The ship ran aground in an unexpected shallow.
Hollow
(US) A sunken area.
Shallow
A fish, the rudd.
Hollow
(transitive) to make a hole in something; to excavate
Shallow
(historical) A costermonger's barrow.
Hollow
To call or urge by shouting; to hollo.
Shallow
(ambitransitive) To make or become less deep.
Hollow
(of something solid) Having an empty space or cavity inside.
A hollow tree; a hollow sphere
Shallow
Not deep; having little depth; shoal.
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 deep in tone.
The sound perfecter and not so shallow and jarring.
Hollow
(figuratively) Without substance; having no real or significant worth; meaningless.
A hollow victory
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) Insincere, devoid of validity; specious.
A hollow promise
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
Concave; gaunt; sunken.
Shallow
The rudd.
Hollow
(gymnastics) Pertaining to hollow body position
Shallow
To make shallow.
Hollow
(colloquial) Completely, as part of the phrase beat hollow or beat all hollow.
Shallow
To become shallow, as water.
Hollow
Alternative form of hollo
Shallow
A stretch of shallow water
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
Make shallow;
The silt shallowed the canal
Hollow
Depressed; concave; gaunt; sunken.
With hollow eye and wrinkled brow.
Shallow
Become shallow;
The lake shallowed over time
Hollow
Reverberated from a cavity, or resembling such a sound; deep; muffled; as, a hollow roar.
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
Not sincere or faithful; false; deceitful; not sound; as, a hollow heart; a hollow friend.
Shallow
Not deep or strong; not affecting one deeply;
Shallow breathing
A night of shallow fretful sleep
In a shallow trance
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
Lacking depth of intellect or knowledge; concerned only with what is obvious;
Shallow people
His arguments seemed shallow and tedious
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
Superficial; lacking depth of character or understanding.
The movie's plot was rather shallow.
Hollow
To make hollow, as by digging, cutting, or engraving; to excavate.
Shallow
Measuring little from bottom to top or surface.
The dish is shallow.
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
Resonating sound due to emptiness.
The drum had a hollow sound.
Hollow
Depressed or sunken area.
He had hollows under his eyes from lack of sleep.
FAQs
Can "Hollow" be used metaphorically?
Yes, "Hollow" can indicate insincerity or lack of substance, like in a "hollow promise."
Is "Shallow" ever used as a noun?
Occasionally, as in "The shallows of the beach."
How do the terms relate to physical objects?
"Hollow" objects have an internal void, while "Shallow" objects lack depth.
Do "Hollow" and "Shallow" have the same meaning?
No, "Hollow" denotes an empty space inside, while "Shallow" indicates a lack of depth.
When is "Shallow" typically used?
"Shallow" can describe surfaces lacking depth or superficial personalities.
Can "Hollow" also be a noun?
Yes, e.g., "The bird nested in the hollow of the tree."
What might a "Shallow" character in literature imply?
A character lacking depth, insight, or sincerity.
Can "Shallow" describe water bodies?
Yes, e.g., a "shallow pool" or "shallow end of a pool."
If someone's words are "Hollow," are they meaningful?
Typically, no. "Hollow" words lack sincerity or substance.
Which term conveys a deeper emotional void?
"Hollow" often conveys a deeper sense of emotional emptiness.
What sound might a "Hollow" object produce?
A "Hollow" object can produce a resonating or echoing sound.
Is "Shallow" always negative in connotation?
Not always. While it can indicate superficiality, it can also neutrally describe physical depth.
Are both "Hollow" and "Shallow" adjectives?
Primarily, yes. But "Hollow" can also be a noun, and "Shallow" occasionally.
Does a "Hollow tree" lack depth?
No, it has an empty space or cavity inside.
Which term, "Hollow" or "Shallow," indicates an interior void?
"Hollow" indicates an interior void or cavity.
Can "Shallow" describe a person's thinking?
Yes, implying a lack of depth or thoroughness in thought.
Is a "Hollow victory" a sincere win?
No, it implies a win that lacks true satisfaction or value.
Can "Shallow" be used in positive contexts?
While often neutral or negative, it can be positive, e.g., "shallow waters" being safe for kids.
Can "Shallow" refer to breathing?
Yes, e.g., "He took shallow breaths."
What's a "Hollow" sound?
A sound that echoes or resonates due to emptiness.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
