hollow

[ hol-oh ]

adjective

, hol·low·er, hol·low·est.

1. having a space or cavity inside; not solid; empty:

   a hollow sphere.

2. having a depression or concavity:

   a hollow surface.

3. sunken, as the cheeks or eyes.
4. (of sound) not resonant; dull, muffled, or deep:

   a hollow voice.

5. without real or significant worth; meaningless:

   a hollow victory.

   Synonyms: pointless, futile, empty, vain

6. insincere or false:

   hollow compliments.

7. hungry; having an empty feeling:

   I feel absolutely hollow, so let's eat.

noun

1. an empty space within anything; a hole, depression, or cavity.
2. a valley:

   They took the sheep to graze in the hollow.

3. Foundry. a concavity connecting two surfaces otherwise intersecting at an obtuse angle.

verb (used with object)

1. to make hollow (often followed by out ):

   to hollow out a log.

2. to form by making something hollow (often followed by out ):

   to hollow a place in the sand;

   boats hollowed out of logs.

verb (used without object)

1. to become hollow.

adverb

1. in a hollow manner:

   The politician's accusations rang hollow.

hollow

/ ˈhɒləʊ /

adjective

1. having a hole, cavity, or space within; not solid
2. having a sunken area; concave
3. recessed or deeply set

   hollow cheeks

4. (of sounds) as if resounding in a hollow place
5. without substance or validity
6. hungry or empty
7. insincere; cynical
8. a hollow leg or hollow legs
   the capacity to eat or drink a lot without ill effects

adverb

1. beat someone hollow informal.
   to defeat someone thoroughly and convincingly

noun

1. a cavity, opening, or space in or within something
2. a depression or dip in the land

verb

1. to make or become hollow
2. to form (a hole, cavity, etc) or (of a hole, etc) to be formed

Derived Forms

• ˈhollowly, adverb
• ˈhollowness, noun

Other Words From

• hol·low·ly adverb
• hol·low·ness noun
• half-hol·low adjective
• un·hol·low adjective
• un·hol·lowed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hollow¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English holow, holw(e), Old English holh “a hollow place”; akin to hole

Word History and Origins

Origin of hollow¹

C12: from holu, inflected form of Old English holh cave; related to Old Norse holr, German hohl; see hole

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. beat all hollow, to surpass or outdo completely: Also beat hollow.

   His performance beat the others all hollow.

More idioms and phrases containing hollow

see beat the pants off (hollow) .

Example Sentences

So why does she return to the same horrible situation seeking the same hollow validation?

From Los Angeles Times

Survivors have argued that Luxon's apology rings hollow unless it is accompanied with proper plans for restitution.

From BBC

A squeeze on funding over many years had made money tight – the forces “hollowed out”, according to Wallace.

From BBC

Even though his gesture was as hollow as it could be, I agreed.

From Salon

You tell me, her inquisitor throws back at her, and she concludes somewhat hollowly, “I don’t know.”

From Salon