shal·low
ˈsha-(ˌ)lō 
1
: having little depth
shallow water
2
: having little extension inward or backward
office buildings have taken the form of shallow slabs—
Lewis Mumford
Lewis Mumford3
a
: penetrating only the easily or quickly perceived
shallow generalizations
b
: lacking in depth of knowledge, thought, or feeling
a shallow demagogue
4
: displacing comparatively little air : weak
shallow breathing
shallowness
noun
shallowed; shallowing; shallows
: to make shallow
: to become shallow
: a shallow place or area in a body of water
—usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction
Synonyms
Examples of shallow in a Sentence
Adjective
The shallow end of the pool is only three feet deep.
Her boyfriends were all shallow creeps.
She could only take shallow breaths.
His breathing became very shallow.
Noun
we waded through the shallows looking for tadpoles
Recent Examples on the WebChad Morgenthaler, Outdoor Life, 8 Aug. 2024
In May, Arizona Lithium officials said that if the mine proves feasible and is permitted, it would be dug in a relatively shallow v-shape that would be infilled as the excavation progresses.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 8 Aug. 2024
Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2024
As rainfall increases, some salt shallows and other seasonal lakes see an increase in cyanobacteria.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 July 2024
Liz Lindqwister, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 July 2024
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The Winner
Maldives
Fan after fan extolled the nearly 1,200-island nation in the Indian Ocean for relaxation and romance, with crystal-clear shallows, teeming reefs, and standard-setting, over-water villas among its many atolls.
—Elaine Glusac, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for shallow 
Adjective
Use a lower setting (85 percent) for shallow conditions (15 feet or less) and 100 percent for 15 feet or deeper.
—Chad Morgenthaler, Outdoor Life, 8 Aug. 2024
In May, Arizona Lithium officials said that if the mine proves feasible and is permitted, it would be dug in a relatively shallow v-shape that would be infilled as the excavation progresses.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 8 Aug. 2024
Verb
In the top of the sixth, Toro chased down Ohtani’s fly ball to shallow left field and made a basket catch, denying Los Angeles’ $700 million dollar man a hit.
—Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2024
As rainfall increases, some salt shallows and other seasonal lakes see an increase in cyanobacteria.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 July 2024
Noun
Tadpole Migration by Shane Gross Every summer day in the lakes of Vancouver Island, hundreds of paperclip-sized western toad tadpoles (Anaxyrus boreas) wriggle their way from the relatively safe depths of the water into sunlit shallows, where algae thrives and dinner awaits.
—Liz Lindqwister, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 July 2024
This Is Part Of The World's Best Awards See All Winners
The Winner
Maldives
Fan after fan extolled the nearly 1,200-island nation in the Indian Ocean for relaxation and romance, with crystal-clear shallows, teeming reefs, and standard-setting, over-water villas among its many atolls.
—Elaine Glusac, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for shallow
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shallow.' 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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Cite this Entry
“Shallow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shallow. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shallow
1 of 2 adjective
shal·low
ˈshal-ō
1
: having little depth
shallow water
2
: showing little knowledge, thought, or feeling
shallowly
adverb
shallowness
noun
shallow
2 of 2 noun
: a shallow place or area in a body of water
—usually used in plural
Medical Definition
shallow
adjective
shal·low
ˈshal-(ˌ)ō, -ə(-w)
: displacing comparatively little air
shallow breathing
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