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
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 Web
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2025
The bowl is shallow but wide, so multiple birds can stop by for a bath at once.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2025
David Delgado, Oc Register, 27 May 2025
Taylor covered significant ground tracking down a fly ball from Will Smith to shallow right-center field, before throwing right on the line to catcher Luis Torrens at home plate just as Mookie Betts came sliding in feet-first.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 25 May 2025
Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 2 Feb. 2025
Not only are camels strolling along the shore, but flamingos are also wading in the shallows right next to them.
—Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shallow
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
The beach forms an arc, and the bright blue waters are calm and shallow, making this the perfect spot to lounge, swim, or snorkel during a summer day.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2025
The bowl is shallow but wide, so multiple birds can stop by for a bath at once.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2025
Verb
Estancia pitcher Vaughn McCrea fired a pitch to Rancho Mirage’s Jesus Gutierrez, who hit a fly ball to shallow left field.
—David Delgado, Oc Register, 27 May 2025
Taylor covered significant ground tracking down a fly ball from Will Smith to shallow right-center field, before throwing right on the line to catcher Luis Torrens at home plate just as Mookie Betts came sliding in feet-first.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 25 May 2025
Noun
Dine directly in the water at Secret Beach, where a stretch of crystal-clear shallows and sand lined with lively beach bars feels anything but secret.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 2 Feb. 2025
Not only are camels strolling along the shore, but flamingos are also wading in the shallows right next to them.
—Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shallow
Cite this Entry
“Shallow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shallow. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share