B2adjective2K

Shallow

UK /["/ˈʃæləʊ/"]/US /["/ˈʃæləʊ/"]/

Definition

not having much distance between the top or surface and the bottom

In simple words: Not deep; only a little water or understanding.

Examples

  • The water in the lake is quite shallow, perfect for children to play in.
  • His argument was shallow and lacked depth of understanding.
  • We decided to walk through the shallow end of the pool.
  • She found the movie to be shallow, without any real character development.
  • The shallow waters near the beach are ideal for snorkeling.
  • Her shallow interest in the subject became evident when she couldn't answer basic questions.

Usage notes

Use 'shallow' to describe physical depth (like a pool) or metaphorical depth (like understanding). Avoid in formal writing when discussing serious topics.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of a shallow dish; it has little depth.

Collocations

  • be
  • look
  • become
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • be
  • seem
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very

Synonyms

  • superficial

Antonyms

  • deep
  • profound
  • intense

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'superficial' - both can describe lack of depth but 'superficial' often has a more negative connotation.
  • Using 'shallows' incorrectly to mean 'shallow waters' without the context.
  • Mixing up with 'shallowly' which is an adverb form.