hollow out
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
And while Africa’s mobile ecosystem generated some $220 billion in economic value in 2024 and supports millions of jobs, the fear is that unchecked satellite expansion could hollow out local telecom industries while shifting revenues, data, and strategic control offshore.
—
Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 22 May 2026
As the institutions that hold democracy together are quietly hollowed out and the very definition of democracy is rewritten as being simply majority rule, universal values – human dignity and the rule of law – are replaced with a fierce nationalism, a proud victimhood, and a rewriting of history.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
By ruling that such race-conscious compliance is unconstitutional, the Court hollowed out one of the most powerful applications of the Voting Rights Act, causing redistricting efforts to soar in states around the country before the 2026 midterm elections, particularly in southern states.
—Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 19 May 2026
The technology could hollow out entire industries like software engineering, which had been investors’ golden child.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hollow out
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 22 May 2026
As the institutions that hold democracy together are quietly hollowed out and the very definition of democracy is rewritten as being simply majority rule, universal values – human dignity and the rule of law – are replaced with a fierce nationalism, a proud victimhood, and a rewriting of history.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
By ruling that such race-conscious compliance is unconstitutional, the Court hollowed out one of the most powerful applications of the Voting Rights Act, causing redistricting efforts to soar in states around the country before the 2026 midterm elections, particularly in southern states.
—Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 19 May 2026
The technology could hollow out entire industries like software engineering, which had been investors’ golden child.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 16 May 2026
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 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
