Cool MateEmpty vs Hollow
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Empty
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Hollow
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Most common: Empty
| Empty | Hollow | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈempti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈempti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhɒləʊ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhɑːləʊ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Having nothing inside it. | Having a space inside; not solid. |
| Example | The box was empty, so I decided to fill it with toys. | The tree was hollow, providing a perfect shelter for small animals. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of, appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of | hollow laughter, hollow point, hollow eyes, hollow sound |
| Antonyms | full, occupied, loaded | solid, full |
| Common mistakes | Using 'emptied' instead of 'empty' for describing a current state., Saying 'an emptyness' instead of 'emptiness' when referring to the state of being empty. | Confused with 'hallowed' (holy)., Using as a verb instead of an adjective., Mixing up 'hollow' with 'empty' without context. |
| Usage notes | Use 'empty' to describe physical spaces, containers, or feelings. It may not be appropriate for formal writing when referring to more abstract concepts like 'empty promises'. | Used when describing objects that are empty inside, such as a hollow tree or hollow shell. Avoid using in overly formal contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: Empty vs Hollow
What's the difference between Empty and Hollow?
Empty: Having nothing inside it. Hollow: Having a space inside; not solid.
Which is more common: Empty and Hollow?
Empty is the most common in everyday English.
Are Empty and Hollow the same CEFR level?
Empty: A2, Hollow: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Empty and Hollow interchangeably?
Not always. Empty and Hollow are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.