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adjective, hol·low·er, hol·low·est.
  1. having a space or cavity inside; not solid; empty: a hollow sphere.
  2. having a depression or concavity: a hollow surface.
  3. sunken, as the cheeks or eyes.
  4. (of sound) not resonant; dull, muffled, or deep: a hollow voice.
  5. without real or significant worth; meaningless: a hollow victory.
  6. insincere or false: hollow compliments.
  7. hungry; having an empty feeling: I feel absolutely hollow, so let's eat.
  1. an empty space within anything; a hole, depression, or cavity.
  2. a valley: They took the sheep to graze in the hollow.
  3. Foundry. a concavity connecting two surfaces otherwise intersecting at an obtuse angle.
verb (used with object)
  1. to make hollow (often followed by out): to hollow out a log.
  2. to form by making something hollow (often followed by out): to hollow a place in the sand; boats hollowed out of logs.
verb (used without object)
  1. to become hollow.
  1. in a hollow manner: The politician's accusations rang hollow.
  1. beat all hollow, to surpass or outdo completely: His performance beat the others all hollow.Also beat hollow.

Origin of hollow

before 900; Middle English holw(e), holow, Old English holh a hollow place; akin to hole
Related formshol·low·ly, adverbhol·low·ness, nounhalf-hol·low, adjectiveun·hol·low, adjectiveun·hol·lowed, adjective


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5. vain, empty, futile, pointless.

Examples from the Web for hollowly

Historical Examples

  • "It was thus I left my loved ones," the Wanderer said hollowly.

    Wanderer of Infinity

    Harl Vincent

  • The actor laughed like a man of small humor, mellowly, but hollowly.

    The Story of a Play

    W. D. Howells

  • The lady who received us was effusive to Aunt Eliza and hollowly gracious to me.

    Dream Days

    Kenneth Grahame

  • "There's no longer an Antamunda," John Andrusco said hollowly.

  • His voice was low, but it rang as hollowly as though he were from another world.

    Out of the Air

    Inez Haynes Irwin

British Dictionary definitions for hollowly


  1. having a hole, cavity, or space within; not solid
  2. having a sunken area; concave
  3. recessed or deeply sethollow cheeks
  4. (of sounds) as if resounding in a hollow place
  5. without substance or validity
  6. hungry or empty
  7. insincere; cynical
  8. a hollow leg or hollow legs the capacity to eat or drink a lot without ill effects
  1. beat someone hollow British informal to defeat someone thoroughly and convincingly
  1. a cavity, opening, or space in or within something
  2. a depression or dip in the land
verb (often foll by out, usually when tr)
  1. to make or become hollow
  2. to form (a hole, cavity, etc) or (of a hole, etc) to be formed
Derived Formshollowly, adverbhollowness, noun

Word Origin

C12: from holu, inflected form of Old English holh cave; related to Old Norse holr, German hohl; see hole

Word Origin and History for hollowly



c.1200, from Old English holh (n.) "hollow place, hole," from Proto-Germanic *hul-, from PIE *kel- "to cover, conceal" (see cell). The figurative sense of "insincere" is attested from 1520s. Related: Hollowly; hollowness. To carry it hollow "take it completely" is first recorded 1660s, of unknown origin or connection.



late 14c., holowen, from hollow (adj.). Related: Hollowed; hollowing.



"lowland, valley, basin," 1550s, probably a modern formation from hollow (adj.). Old English had holh (n.) "cave, den; internal cavity."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with hollowly

