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

Once vibrant with produce and daily bustle, markets have been hollowed out by months of siege, bombardment, and economic collapse. —Juwayriah Wright, Time, 19 May 2025

This includes hollowing out research agency staffs and freezing the process by which grants are awarded. —L. Rafael Reif, Foreign Affairs, 6 May 2025

There is already some grumbling that the G League has been hollowed out by the creation of a third two-way spot, and that was during a period when more talent was reaching the league. —Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 1 May 2025

The once-vibrant city has been systematically destroyed and hollowed out by the brutal fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025

Rhymes for hollow out

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout