hollow out
phrasal verb
hollowed out; hollowing out; hollows out
1
: to remove the inside of (something) : to make an empty space in (something)
The kids were hollowing out pumpkins.
a hollowed-out log
2
: to form (something) by digging or cutting the inside of something
Workers hollowed out a tunnel through the mountain.
Examples of hollow out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ironically, this is how China got a lot of its technology from the US on its way to hollowing out swaths of American industry.
—
semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025
At the time, Schumer specifically cited actions the administration would take to hollow out the federal workforce as the Department of Government Efficiency was working to eliminate positions across departments and agencies.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 29 Sep. 2025
Built atop one of Europe’s largest iron ore mines, the land underneath the town has been hollowed out by extensive mining making parts of it inhabitable.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2025
The harsh dye exposed her dark roots, accentuating the charcoal-colored shadow hollowing out the shape of her eyes.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hollow out
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semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025
At the time, Schumer specifically cited actions the administration would take to hollow out the federal workforce as the Department of Government Efficiency was working to eliminate positions across departments and agencies.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 29 Sep. 2025
Built atop one of Europe’s largest iron ore mines, the land underneath the town has been hollowed out by extensive mining making parts of it inhabitable.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2025
The harsh dye exposed her dark roots, accentuating the charcoal-colored shadow hollowing out the shape of her eyes.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hollow out
Cite this Entry
“Hollow out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hollow%20out. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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