hollow is on the Basic English 850 List. hole - hollow - hook Pronunciation (UK) IPA (key): /ˈhɒl.əʊ/ (US) IPA (key): /ˈhɑ.loʊ/ Audio (US)(file) Positive hollow Comparative hollower Superlative hollowest If something has nothing inside of it, it is hollow. The box is hollow. If the inside of a tree or log has rotted away so the middle is empty, it is hollow. The rabbit ran through the hollow log. Lacking enthusiasm or cheer "He let out a hollow laugh" Plain form hollow Third-person singular hollows Past tense hollowed Past participle hollowed Present participle hollowing (transitive) If you hollow out something, you make a hole in it. Synonym: excavate