Meaning & use

hollow

adjective·Academic

Having an empty space inside, or, figuratively, lacking real meaning or sincerity.

See it in a sentence

The tree trunk was hollow, and squirrels had made a home inside it.

His apology felt hollow because he kept repeating the same mistake.

A note on using this word

"Hollow" describes physical emptiness (a hollow log) or emotional emptiness (a hollow promise).

Words with a similar meaning

emptyinsincere

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. noun

A small valley or a hole or gap in something.

Deer often rest in the hollow between the two hills.

Make it your own

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