What does shallow mean?

Pronunciation

/ˈʃæwloh/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun or Adjective

Definition

A lack of depth, complexity, or understanding; superficial or trivial.

Examples

• The discussion was shallow and lacked intellectual depth.
• Her shallow understanding of the topic led to misunderstandings.

Etymology

The word “shallow” comes from the Old English word “sciell”, meaning “little” or “small”. It has evolved to convey a sense of superficiality or lack of depth.

Usage Notes

Sometimes used to express disappointment or dissatisfaction with the lack of substance in an idea or argument.

Cultural References

Popular in literature, film, and music to describe a superficial or lacking quality.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• ‘Shallow waters’ referring to trivial or superficial issues.
• ‘Shallow thinking’ implying a lack of depth or complexity in one’s ideas.

Related Words or Phrases

• Superficial
• Fundamental
• In-depth

Collocations

• Shallow understanding
• Shallow thinking
• Shallow waters

Frequency of Use

Commonly used in informal conversations and writing to express disappointment or dissatisfaction with superficiality.

Common Misspellings

• Shallowe
• Shallo