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

Though not visible from the outside, the centre of the building had been hollowed out to make room for trees and a small pond, with a curved corridor above – awash with translucent light – that provided a full view of the quaint courtyard. —Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026

Massive young stars don't quietly settle in; their intense radiation and powerful stellar winds push outward, hollowing out the surrounding gas. —Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 21 Jan. 2026

That optimism stands in contrast to warnings from leaders like Ford CEO Jim Farley, who has repeatedly cautioned that AI is hollowing out traditional white-collar entry points—just as the education system continues to funnel students toward four-year degrees. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 21 Jan. 2026

Mismanagement, corruption, lack of maintenance, and the prioritization of political loyalty over expertise hollowed out the industry. —Helena Carpio, Time, 16 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for hollow out

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