hollow out

To remove the inside of something, leaving an empty space.

• We hollowed out a pumpkin.
• She is hollowing out the wood with a small knife.
• Can you hollow this melon out for the fruit salad?

How to use it: hollow something out (We hollowed the log out with simple tools.)

Similar words: empty, scoop out

Opposites: fill

Common phrases: hollow out something, hollow out a pumpkin

To make an organization or system weaker by removing important parts of it.

• The cuts hollowed out public services.
• Corruption is hollowing out the government.
• Moving jobs abroad can hollow a local economy out.

How to use it: hollow something out (Years of cuts have hollowed the service out.)

Similar words: weaken, undermine

Opposites: strengthen

Common phrases: hollow out democracy, hollow out something

To develop an empty space inside.

• Old trees sometimes hollow out.
• The trunk hollowed out as the wood rotted.
• These bones can hollow out over time.

Similar words: become hollow

Common phrases: trees hollow out, bones hollow out