Shallow
/ˈʃæloʊ/
Definitions
3 meaningsHaving little depth; not deep.
/ˈʃæloʊ/
Not deep
The water at the beach was quite shallow, making it safe for the kids to play.
💡 Simply: Imagine a swimming pool where you can stand up in most places. That's shallow! It means not very deep. Like, 'The river is too shallow to swim in.'
👶 For kids: Not deep. Like a puddle you can walk through!
More Examples
She built a shallow trench for the irrigation system.
The artist painted a shallow well, giving the illusion of depth in the artwork.
How It's Used
"The lake was shallow, so we could walk across it."
"The shallow end of the pool is perfect for children."
Lacking intellectual depth; not exhibiting deep thought, emotion, or understanding.
/ˈʃæloʊ/
Lacking depth of intellect, emotion, or knowledge.
The book offered a shallow analysis of the complex political situation.
💡 Simply: Sometimes, people are a little 'shallow.' It means they don't really think or feel things very deeply. Like, 'Their conversation was all about clothes and not about anything important—very shallow!'
👶 For kids: Not thinking or caring about things very much. Like only caring about fun stuff!
More Examples
Their relationship was based on shallow attraction rather than deep connection.
He presented a shallow perspective on art, focusing solely on aesthetics.
How It's Used
"His shallow understanding of the subject was evident in his analysis."
"She felt the conversation was shallow and unfulfilling."
To make or become less deep; to become shallower.
/ˈʃæloʊ/
To make or become shallow.
The river shallowed as it approached the delta.
💡 Simply: To make something become less deep, like digging a hole and not making it very deep. The river shallowed, due to a lack of rain.
👶 For kids: To make something less deep, like a pool.
More Examples
The construction project began to shallow the shoreline.
The lake shallowed during the drought.
How It's Used
"The river shallowed due to sedimentation."
Idioms & expressions
shallow end
The less difficult or complex part or aspect of something. Often refers to the beginning or least skilled area.
"He started in the shallow end of the project to get familiar with the process."
From Old English *sceald, *sceall, related to Old High German *scalaha ('thin, slight').
Historically used to describe physical depth, but has expanded to include intellectual and emotional depth.
Memory tip
Think of a puddle – it's shallow and easy to wade through.
Word Origin
"of little depth"