# shallow

/ˈʃæɫoʊ/ (US) · /ʃˈæləʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shallow
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. not deep water

adjective · CEFR B1

having only a short distance from the top to the bottom.

For teachers: having little physical depth; measuring a small distance from the surface to the base.

- The children played in the shallow end of the swimming pool.
- The boat ran aground in the shallow waters near the coast, as the captain had underestimated how much the tide had receded.

### 2. superficial person

adjective · CEFR B2

describing someone who only cares about unimportant things like looks or money.

For teachers: lacking intellectual or emotional depth; concerned only with obvious or superficial matters.

- He is a bit shallow and only dates people who look like models.
- Critics dismissed the novel as shallow, arguing that the author failed to explore the complex psychological motivations of the protagonists.

### 3. breathing

adjective · CEFR B2

describing breaths that do not take much air into the lungs.

For teachers: characterised by a lack of physical penetration or intensity, specifically regarding respiration.

- The patient was taking quick, shallow breaths after the accident.
- The paramedic noticed the victim's shallow breathing and immediately checked for a blocked airway.

### 4. not steep

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

having a very gentle slope that is almost flat.

For teachers: having a low gradient or angle; approaching the horizontal.

- The ramp has a shallow slope to make it easier for wheelchairs.
- The roof was designed with a shallow pitch to comply with local height restrictions while maintaining a modern aesthetic.

### 5. area of low water

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a place in a river or sea where the water is not deep.

For teachers: an area of a body of water where the depth is significantly reduced.

- The small fish gathered in the shallows to hide from larger predators.
- Wading through the shallows, the researchers collected samples of the unique seagrass that only grows in sunlit, low-depth environments.

### 6. to become less deep

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to become less deep over time.

For teachers: to decrease in depth; often used in nautical or geological contexts to describe a seabed rising.

- The river began to shallow as it filled with sand and mud.
- The coastal charts must be updated frequently because the shifting currents cause the channel to shallow unpredictably.

## Examples

- The water is very shallow near the beach.
- Children should stay in the shallow end of the pool until they learn how to swim properly.
- Critics dismissed the film as a shallow attempt to capitalize on current trends without offering any meaningful social commentary or character development.

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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.