Definition of shallow
1 : having little depth shallow water
2 : having little extension inward or backward office buildings have taken the form of shallow slabs — Lewis Mumford
3a : penetrating only the easily or quickly perceived shallow generalizationsb : lacking in depth of knowledge, thought, or feeling a shallow demagogue
4 : displacing comparatively little air : weak shallow breathing
shallowness
nounExplore M-W
Examples of shallow in a Sentence
The shallow end of the pool is only three feet deep.
Her boyfriends were all shallow creeps.
She could only take shallow breaths.
His breathing became very shallow.
Origin and Etymology of shallow
Middle English schalowe; probably akin to Old English sceald shallow — more at skeleton
First Known Use: 14th century
Synonym Discussion of shallow
shallow
Definition of shallow
transitive verb
: to make shallow
intransitive verb
: to become shallow
1510
First Known Use of shallow
1510
shallow
Definition of shallow
: a shallow place or area in a body of water —usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction
Examples of shallow in a Sentence
we waded through the shallows looking for tadpoles
1569
First Known Use of shallow
1569
Other Geology Terms
anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale
SHALLOW Defined for English Language Learners
shallow
playDefinition of shallow for English Language Learners
-
: having a small distance to the bottom from the surface or highest point
-
: not going far inward from the outside or the front edge of something
-
: not caring about or involving serious or important things
SHALLOW Defined for Kids
Definition of shallow for Students
shallower
;shallowest
1 : not deep a shallow stream
2 : taking in small amounts of air shallow breaths
3 : showing little knowledge, thought, or feeling They're shallow people only interested in money.
shallowness
nounDefinition of shallow for Students
: a shallow place in a body of water —usually used in pl.
Medical Dictionary
shallow
playMedical Definition of shallow
: displacing comparatively little air shallow breathing
Learn More about shallow
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shallow Spanish Central: Translation of shallow Nglish: Translation of shallow for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of shallow for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up shallow? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!