Word
shallows
Phoneticsshal·lows
UK/ʃˈæləʊz/
Plural noun
Definition
n. a part of the sea, lake, or river where the water is not deep, so you can often stand or see the bottom.
n. an area of water in a sea, lake, or river where the depth is small and the bottom lies close to the surface.
Examples
“The children play safely in the shallows near the beach.”
“The boat slows down as it enters the shallows where the water turns clear and light green.”
“At low tide the exposed sandbars divide the shallows into glassy pools where herons stand motionless, waiting for small fish.”
Examples
simple
“The children play safely in the shallows near the beach.”
contextual
“The boat slows down as it enters the shallows where the water turns clear and light green.”
complex
“At low tide the exposed sandbars divide the shallows into glassy pools where herons stand motionless, waiting for small fish.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “shallows” in context.
Verb
01. avoid shallows
“Large boats must avoid the shallows near the harbour entrance.”
verb + noun
02. explore shallows
“We put on masks to explore the shallows around the coral reef.”
verb + noun
03. lurk in shallows
“Stingrays often lurk in the shallows, buried under the sand.”
verb + prep + noun
04. navigate shallows
“Local fishermen can navigate the shallows without a map.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. coastal shallows
“Dolphins often hunt in the coastal shallows early in the morning.”
adj + noun
06. muddy shallows
“Herons stood perfectly still in the muddy shallows of the estuary.”
adj + noun
07. rocky shallows
“Crabs hid among the rocks in the rocky shallows at low tide.”
adj + noun
08. sandy shallows
“Small silver fish darted through the sandy shallows near the beach.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. edge of shallows
“The heron waited at the edge of the shallows for fish.”
noun + prep + noun
10. patch of shallows
“The boat slowed down over a patch of shallows full of seaweed.”
noun + prep + noun
11. explore the sandy shallows
“Snorkellers can explore the sandy shallows near the pier.”
12. lurk in the shallows
“Crocodiles can lurk in the shallows for hours unseen.”
Real-World Examples
“Russian scientists are poring over the stunningly well-preserved bones of an adult woolly mammoth that roamed the earth at least 10,000 years ago, after local inhabitants discovered its remains in the shallows of a north Siberian lake.” “Holidaymakers were sent fleeing from a tranquil Mallorca beach after a shark swam to the water's edge and thrashed around in the shallows.” “Female humpback whales with calves head for the shallows to avoid sexual harassment, according to a new study.” “A photographer captured this extraordinary site where whales' bodies lie in the shallows.” Synonyms
Antonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/shallows