Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Hollowness: meaning, definitions and examples

😔
Add to dictionary

hollowness

 

[ ˈhɒl.əʊ.nəs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

feeling

The state or quality of being hollow or empty inside, often used to describe a sense of emptiness or lack of fulfillment in one's emotions or life.

Synonyms

emptiness, vacancy, void.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
hollowness

Used to describe a physical object or structure that is empty inside, or to metaphorically express a lack of substance or depth.

  • The hollowness of the tree trunk made it an ideal hiding spot for small animals
  • He felt a strange hollowness in his chest after the argument, as if something was missing
emptiness

Often used to describe a space that is completely devoid of objects or people, or to express a feeling of loneliness or lack of purpose.

  • The emptiness of the room after the party was striking
  • She couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness after her children moved out
void

Typically used to describe a large gap or space that is completely empty, or metaphorically to express a profound emptiness or absence, often with a dramatic or negative connotation.

  • The spaceship drifted aimlessly through the void of space
  • After her loss, she felt a void in her life that nothing could fill
vacancy

Commonly used to describe an unoccupied position, role, or space, particularly in employment or rental contexts.

  • There's a vacancy at the company for a marketing manager
  • The hotel had no vacancies, so we had to find another place to stay

Examples of usage

  • The hollowness in his chest grew as he realized he had lost the one he loved.
  • She tried to fill the hollowness in her heart with material possessions, but nothing seemed to work.
  • The hollowness of her laughter betrayed the sadness she was trying to hide.
Context #2 | Noun

sound

The characteristic of a sound that lacks depth or fullness, often described as a hollow or echoing quality.

Synonyms

echoing, hollow, resonance.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
hollowness

Use this word when describing a state of emptiness or lack of substance, both physically and metaphorically.

  • The hollowness of the tree trunk made it a perfect hiding spot.
  • She felt an overwhelming hollowness after their argument.
echoing

This word is suitable when describing sounds that repeat or reverberate, often in a large empty space.

  • The empty hallway was echoing with their footsteps.
  • His voice was echoing through the cave, making it hard to understand.
resonance

This word is best used when referring to a quality of sound being deep, full, and reverberating, or when describing something that has a lasting impact or significance.

  • The resonance of the church bells could be heard miles away.
  • His words had a deep resonance for everyone in the room.
hollow

Use 'hollow' to describe something that is empty inside or to convey a feeling of emptiness or insincerity.

  • The tree was hollow, making it easy to cut down.
  • Her smile seemed hollow and didn't reach her eyes.

Examples of usage

  • The hollowness of the drum's beat echoed through the empty room.
  • The hollowness of his voice in the cave made it seem like a ghostly whisper.

Translations

Translations of the word "hollowness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 vazio

🇮🇳 खालीपन

🇩🇪 Leere

🇮🇩 kehampaan

🇺🇦 порожнеча

🇵🇱 pustka

🇯🇵 空洞

🇫🇷 vide

🇪🇸 vacío

🇹🇷 boşluk

🇰🇷 공허함

🇸🇦 فراغ

🇨🇿 prázdnota

🇸🇰 prázdnota

🇨🇳 空虚

🇸🇮 praznina

🇮🇸 tómarúm

🇰🇿 бос

🇬🇪 სიცარიელე

🇦🇿 boşluq

🇲🇽 vacío

Etymology

The word 'hollowness' originated from the Old English word 'holh', meaning 'hole'. Over time, it evolved to include the concept of emptiness or lack of substance. The use of 'hollowness' to describe emotional emptiness became popular in the 19th century, reflecting the growing awareness of mental health and emotional well-being.

See also: hollow.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,791, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.