What does "hollow out" mean (sense 1)?

To remove the interior of a physical object to create an empty space inside it Example: "He hollowed out a large log to make a rustic planter for the garden."

What does "hollow out" mean (sense 2)?

To gradually weaken, undermine, or deplete an institution, economy, or community of its substance or vitality Example: "Decades of outsourcing have hollowed out the manufacturing sector in this region."

What does "hollow out" mean (sense 3)?

To make someone feel emotionally empty or drained Example: "The grief had hollowed her out until she felt nothing at all."

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hollow out

B2 neutral separable transitive

To remove the inside of something to make it empty, or to gradually weaken or empty something of its substance

In plain English

Take out the inside of something to make it empty, or slowly make something weaker and emptier

What does "hollow out" mean?

3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 B1 neutral

common

To remove the interior of a physical object to create an empty space inside it

"He hollowed out a large log to make a rustic planter for the garden."

separable

2 B2 idiomatic neutral

common

To gradually weaken, undermine, or deplete an institution, economy, or community of its substance or vitality

"Decades of outsourcing have hollowed out the manufacturing sector in this region."

separable

3 C1 idiomatic neutral

uncommon

To make someone feel emotionally empty or drained

"The grief had hollowed her out until she felt nothing at all."

separable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To make a hollow (empty) space inside something by removing its interior material

Actually means

Take out the inside of something to make it empty, or slowly make something weaker and emptier

Usage tip

Used literally for physical objects (hollow out a pumpkin) and figuratively for institutions, arguments, or emotions (the policy hollowed out the middle class). The figurative use is more common in journalism and political commentary.

Words that pair with "hollow out"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

economy community institution log pumpkin middle class

How to conjugate "hollow out"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base

hollow out

I/you/we/they

3rd person

hollows out

he/she/it

Past simple

hollowed out

yesterday

Past participle

hollowed out

have + pp

-ing form

hollowing out

continuous

Hear "hollow out" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "hollow out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "hollow out"

Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.

carve out core empty excavate gut scoop out

Keep exploring

Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.

All phrasal verbs with "hollow" All phrasal verbs with "out" More B2-level phrasal verbs