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
While the structure had been empty for years, timber and lathe were all the fire needed to hollow out the building, which Heggstrom said lacked modern fire-suppression capabilities and fire alarms.
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Vincent Medina, Sacramento Bee, 16 June 2024
Even those who survive war end up hollowed out on the inside, one way or another.
17.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 May 2024
China’s astonishing growth trajectory appears to have crested, leaving not only people’s bank accounts hollowed out but their sense of identity, as well.
—Rana Mitter, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
The theory goes: Fewer companies will need to locate in urban centers, and fewer workers will need to live in or near them — so the places will hollow out, and taxes and services will plummet, like Detroit after the decline of the Big Three automakers.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hollow out 
Vincent Medina, Sacramento Bee, 16 June 2024
Even those who survive war end up hollowed out on the inside, one way or another.
17.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 May 2024
China’s astonishing growth trajectory appears to have crested, leaving not only people’s bank accounts hollowed out but their sense of identity, as well.
—Rana Mitter, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
The theory goes: Fewer companies will need to locate in urban centers, and fewer workers will need to live in or near them — so the places will hollow out, and taxes and services will plummet, like Detroit after the decline of the Big Three automakers.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hollow out
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hollow out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Hollow out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hollow%20out. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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