shallow

[ shal-oh ]

adjective

, shal·low·er, shal·low·est.

1. of little depth; not deep:

   shallow water.

2. lacking depth; superficial:

   a mind that is not narrow but shallow.

3. taking in a relatively small amount of air in each inhalation:

   shallow breathing.

4. Baseball. relatively close to home plate:

   The shortstop caught the pop fly in shallow left field.

noun

1. Usually shallows. (used with a singular or plural verb) a shallow part of a body of water; shoal.

adverb

1. Baseball. at a shallow position:

   With the pitcher up, the outfielders played shallow.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become shallow.

shallow

/ ˈʃæləʊ /

adjective

1. having little depth
2. lacking intellectual or mental depth or subtlety; superficial

noun

1. often plural a shallow place in a body of water; shoal

verb

1. to make or become shallow

Derived Forms

• ˈshallowly, adverb
• ˈshallowness, noun

Other Words From

• shallow·ly adverb
• shallow·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shallow¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English schalowe (adjective); akin to Old English sceald “shallow” ( shoal ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of shallow¹

C15: related to Old English sceald shallow; see shoal ¹

Example Sentences

On the show, she’s brought frank, provocative discussions about race and privilege to the often shallow waters of reality TV.

From Los Angeles Times

Individuals relying on shallow groundwater or natural springs for drinking water have a higher risk of contamination from these insecticides compared to those getting their drinking water from deep groundwater wells.

From Science Daily

He notes that China’s shallower natural resources, within 500 meters of the surface, “are almost depleted.”

From Science Magazine

Woodward buried Bernstein in a shallow grave in the park.

From Los Angeles Times

On this day in prehistory, Los Angeles still lies beneath a shallow sea.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• empty
• foolish
• frothy
• hollow
• trivial