# hollow

/ˈhɑɫoʊ/ (US) · /hˈɒləʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hollow
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. empty inside

adjective · CEFR B1

having an empty space inside instead of being solid.

For teachers: containing an empty space or cavity within a solid structure.

- The squirrels lived inside a hollow tree in the back garden.
- The sculpture was cast in bronze but remained hollow to ensure it was light enough for the gallery floor to support.

### 2. insincere or meaningless

adjective · CEFR B2

not sincere or having no real value.

For teachers: lacking significance, sincerity, or substance; often used to describe promises or victories.

- His apology felt hollow because he kept making the same mistakes.
- The politician's promises rang hollow to the voters, who had seen similar pledges go unfulfilled after previous elections.

### 3. sunken or gaunt

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

looking empty and deep, like eyes when someone is very tired.

For teachers: having a concave or sunken appearance, typically referring to facial features due to illness or exhaustion.

- After weeks of illness, his cheeks looked hollow and pale.
- The protagonist was depicted with hollow eyes and a weary expression, reflecting the psychological toll of his long journey.

### 4. echoing sound

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

sounding like it is coming from an empty space.

For teachers: characterised by a reverberating, muffled, or low-pitched quality, as if produced within a cavity.

- We heard a hollow thud when the ball hit the wooden floor.
- A hollow echoing sound drifted up from the well, suggesting the water level was much lower than they had anticipated.

### 5. a hole or valley

noun · CEFR B2

a hole in something or a small, low valley.

For teachers: a cavity or unfilled space; also a small valley or depression in the land.

- The rabbit disappeared into a hollow under the roots of the oak tree.
- The village was nestled in a quiet hollow between two steep ridges, protected from the harsh winter winds.

### 6. to make empty

verb · CEFR B2

to remove the inside of something to make it empty.

For teachers: to create a cavity or hole by removing the interior of a solid object.

- The children hollowed out the pumpkin to make a lantern for the party.
- Artisans would traditionally hollow out the logs using controlled fires and stone tools to create sturdy canoes.

Usage: Often used with the particle 'out'.

## Examples

- The rabbit disappeared into a hollow under the tree.
- We built our campfire in a small hollow to protect the flames from the strong mountain wind.
- The ancient oak tree featured a deep hollow where several generations of owls had nested, sheltered from the harsh winter storms that swept across the valley floor.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.