Shallow Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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shallow

[ˈʃæloʊ ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

water

of little depth; not deep

Synonyms

shoal, skin-deep, superficial.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
shallow	Best used when describing physical depth or a lack of intellectual depth. Can be used in a negative sense when referring to a person's character or thoughts. The water in this part of the pool is very shallow. His understanding of the topic is quite shallow.
superficial	Typically used to describe something that is on the surface and lacks depth, whether physically, emotionally, or intellectually. Often carries a negative connotation. Her knowledge of the subject is superficial. He has a superficial charm that doesn't hold up under scrutiny.
shoal	Appropriate for referring to sandbanks or underwater ridges. Mainly used in a nautical or geographical context. The ship ran aground on a shoal near the coast. Be careful while boating; there's a shoal not far from here.
skin-deep	Used to describe something that is only on the surface or not deep emotionally or intellectually. Often used negatively to suggest insincerity. Their friendship is only skin-deep. Beauty is only skin-deep.

Examples of usage

The water in the pond is shallow.
Be careful, the water near the shore is very shallow.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

knowledge

lacking depth or intellectual or emotional profundity

Synonyms

superficial, surface-level, trivial.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
shallow	Use this word when referring to something that is not deep, either physically like water or metaphorically like a conversation or a person's understanding. The water is shallow here, perfect for kids to swim. Their relationship seemed shallow, without any real connection.
superficial	This word is used when describing something that only touches the surface, often implying a lack of depth or seriousness. It can refer to people, relationships, or knowledge. This term can have a slightly negative connotation. Her knowledge of the subject is superficial; she only knows the basics. He has a lot of superficial friends but no one he can really trust.
trivial	Use this word when referring to something of little value or importance. It implies that the subject is not worth paying much attention to and can sometimes have a dismissive or negative connotation. Don't waste time on trivial matters; focus on what's important. Their arguments were often about trivial issues, like where to eat dinner.
surface-level	This term is used to describe something that is only considered or understood on the most basic level, without going deeper into details. It can be used in various contexts like discussions, relationships, or analyses. They only had a surface-level discussion about the project, nothing detailed. His understanding of the issue is very surface-level; he hasn't explored it thoroughly.

Examples of usage

His understanding of the subject is quite shallow.
She has a shallow understanding of the situation.

^{Context #3 | Verb}

mood or feeling

make or become less deep

Synonyms

lessen in intensity, reduce in depth.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
shallow	This word is used when describing something that is not deep, typically related to physical depth like water or thoughts and emotions that are not profound. The water is very shallow near the shore. His understanding of the topic is quite shallow.
reduce in depth	This phrase is used when referring to making something less deep, usually in a more physical or literal sense. It can also refer to conversations or content being made simpler or less detailed. We need to reduce the depth of this trench. They had to reduce in depth the discussion to accommodate the audience.
lessen in intensity	This phrase is suitable when describing situations where the strength, force, or intensity of something is reduced, often used in relation to feelings, weather conditions, or pain. The storm will lessen in intensity by tonight. Her anger began to lessen in intensity after a few hours.

Word

Description / Examples

shallow

This word is used when describing something that is not deep, typically related to physical depth like water or thoughts and emotions that are not profound.

The water is very shallow near the shore.
His understanding of the topic is quite shallow.

reduce in depth

This phrase is used when referring to making something less deep, usually in a more physical or literal sense. It can also refer to conversations or content being made simpler or less detailed.

We need to reduce the depth of this trench.
They had to reduce in depth the discussion to accommodate the audience.

lessen in intensity

This phrase is suitable when describing situations where the strength, force, or intensity of something is reduced, often used in relation to feelings, weather conditions, or pain.

The storm will lessen in intensity by tonight.
Her anger began to lessen in intensity after a few hours.

Examples of usage

Her voice shallowed as she spoke softly.
The river shallows as it approaches the sea.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'shallow'

The word 'shallow' has its origins in Old English, where it was originally spelled as 'sceald'. Over time, the spelling evolved to 'shallow' as we know it today. The concept of shallowness has been associated with various aspects such as water depth, knowledge, and emotions, reflecting a lack of depth or profundity. The word continues to be commonly used in everyday language to describe things that are not deep or lack substance.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,044, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.

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4041 utilized
4042 web
4043 suggesting
4044 shallow
4045 tour
4046 abundance
4047 precious
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