Shallow vs. Narrow: Difference and Comparison
Edited by Muazma Batool — By Muneeza Rehman — Published on December 1, 2023
Shallow describes limited depth, while narrow refers to limited width or breadth.
Difference Between Shallow and Narrow
Shallow and narrow are two adjectives commonly used to describe dimensions or depth of understanding, but they convey different spatial or metaphorical aspects. Shallow is used when speaking about the depth of something, indicating that it isn't deep. It can be used for physical descriptions, like a shallow pool, or metaphorical ones, like a shallow understanding of a topic. On the other hand, narrow has more to do with width or breadth. A narrow street or a narrow perspective are common uses, highlighting the limited width or scope of something.
Muneeza Rehman
Dec 01, 2023
Let's consider water bodies as an example. A shallow lake means that the water doesn't run deep, whereas a narrow river implies that the river isn't wide, possibly making it easy to cross at certain points. The former (shallow) is about how deep the water is from the surface to the bottom, while the latter (narrow) is about how much space exists from one bank to the other.
Muneeza Rehman
Dec 01, 2023
Additionally, when applied to abstract concepts, both words take on more nuanced meanings. A shallow person might lack depth in character or emotion, making superficial judgments or being concerned only with surface-level matters. In contrast, a narrow-minded person might not be receptive to differing viewpoints, having a restricted or limited perspective on matters.
Muneeza Rehman
Dec 01, 2023
While both terms indicate some limitation, they address different aspects. Shallow focuses on the superficiality or lack of depth, and narrow centers on confinement or restriction in breadth or scope. These distinctions make each word suitable for specific contexts, ensuring clarity in communication.
Jonathan
Dec 01, 2023
Shallow vs. Narrow Comparison Chart
Metaphorical Usage
Lack of depth in understanding or character
Limited scope or perspective
Muneeza Rehman
Dec 01, 2023
Shallow vs. Narrow Definitions
◉Shallow
Concerned only with the obvious or apparent.
She was accused of having shallow interests.
Leo
Sep 06, 2023
◉Shallow
Lacking depth of character.
His shallow behavior disappointed many.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 06, 2023
◉Shallow
Measuring little from bottom to top or surface; lacking physical depth.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Shallow
Lacking depth of intellect, emotion, or knowledge
"This is a shallow parody of America" (Lloyd Rose).
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Shallow
Marked by insufficient inhalation of air; weak
shallow respirations.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Shallow
In the part of a playing area that is closer to home plate
shallow left field.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Shallow
often shallows A part of a body of water of little depth; a shoal
abandoned the boat in the shallows.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Shallow
Having little depth; significantly less deep than wide.
This crater is relatively shallow.
Saute the onions in a shallow pan.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Shallow
Concerned mainly with superficial matters.
It was a glamorous but shallow lifestyle.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Shallow
Lacking interest or substance.
The acting is good, but the characters are shallow.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
A body of water with little width that connects two larger bodies of water.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Shallow
Not intellectually deep; not penetrating deeply; simple; not wise or knowing.
shallow learning
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Having a small width; not wide; having opposite edges or sides that are close, especially by comparison to length or depth.
a narrow hallway
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Shallow
(angles) Not steep; close to horizontal.
a shallow climb; a shallow descent; a shallow bank angle
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
(figuratively) Restrictive; without flexibility or latitude.
a narrow interpretation
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Shallow
A shallow portion of an otherwise deep body of water.
The ship ran aground in an unexpected shallow.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Having a small margin or degree.
a narrow escape
The Republicans won by a narrow majority.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Shallow
Not deep in tone.
The sound perfecter and not so shallow and jarring.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
(phonetics) Formed (as a vowel) by a close position of some part of the tongue in relation to the palate; or (according to Bell) by a tense condition of the pharynx; distinguished from wide.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Shallow
Not intellectually deep; not profound; not penetrating deeply; simple; not wise or knowing; ignorant; superficial; as, a shallow mind; shallow learning.
The king was neither so shallow, nor so ill advertised, as not to perceive the intention of the French king.
Deep versed in books, and shallow in himself.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
A narrow passage, especially a contracted part of a stream, lake, or sea; a strait connecting two bodies of water.
the narrows of New York harbor
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Shallow
A place in a body of water where the water is not deep; a shoal; a flat; a shelf.
A swift stream is not heard in the channel, but upon shallows of gravel.
Dashed on the shallows of the moving sand.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
(transitive) To reduce in width or extent; to contract.
We need to narrow the search.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
(of a person or eyes) To partially lower one's eyelids in a way usually taken to suggest a defensive, aggressive or penetrating look.
He stepped in front of me, narrowing his eyes to slits.
She wagged her finger in his face, and her eyes narrowed.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
(knitting) To contract the size of, as a stocking, by taking two stitches into one.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
To convert to a data type that cannot hold as many distinct values.
to narrow an
int variable to a short variableMuneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Of little breadth; not wide or broad; having little distance from side to side; as, a narrow board; a narrow street; a narrow hem.
Hath passed in safety through the narrow seas.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Of little extent; very limited; circumscribed.
The Jews were but a small nation, and confined to a narrow compass in the world.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Shallow
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center;
shallow water
a shallow dish
a shallow cut
a shallow closet
established a shallow beachhead
hit the ball to shallow left field
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Having but a little margin; having barely sufficient space, time, or number, etc.; close; near{5}; - with special reference to some peril or misfortune; as, a narrow shot; a narrow escape; a narrow miss; a narrow majority.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Shallow
not deep or strong; not affecting one deeply;
shallow breathing
a night of shallow fretful sleep
in a shallow trance
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Limited as to means; straitened; pinching; as, narrow circumstances.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Shallow
lacking depth of intellect or knowledge; concerned only with what is obvious;
shallow people
his arguments seemed shallow and tedious
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Contracted; of limited scope; illiberal; bigoted; as, a narrow mind; narrow views.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Parsimonious; niggardly; covetous; selfish.
A very narrow and stinted charity.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Scrutinizing in detail; close; accurate; exact.
But first with narrow search I must walk roundThis garden, and no corner leave unspied.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Formed (as a vowel) by a close position of some part of the tongue in relation to the palate; or (according to Bell) by a tense condition of the pharynx; - distinguished from wide; as ē (ēve) and Ō (fŌd), etc., from ĭ (ĭll) and Ŏ (fŎt), etc. See Guide to Pronunciation, 13.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
A narrow passage; esp., a contracted part of a stream, lake, or sea; a strait connecting two bodies of water; - usually in the plural; as, The Narrows of New York harbor.
Near the island lay on one side the jaws of a dangerousnarrow.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
To lessen the breadth of; to contract; to draw into a smaller compass; to reduce the width or extent of.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
To contract the reach or sphere of; to make less liberal or more selfish; to limit; to confine; to restrict; as, to narrow one's views or knowledge; to narrow a question in discussion.
Our knowledge is much more narrowed if we confine ourselves to our own solitary reasonings.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
To contract the size of, as a stocking, by taking two stitches into one.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
To become less broad; to contract; to become narrower; as, the sea narrows into a strait.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Not to step out enough to the one hand or the other; as, a horse narrows.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
To contract the size of a stocking or other knit article, by taking two stitches into one.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
make or become more narrow or restricted;
The selection was narrowed
The road narrowed
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
lacking tolerance or flexibility or breadth of view;
a brilliant but narrow-minded judge
narrow opinions
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
characterized by painstaking care and detailed examination;
a minute inspection of the grounds
a narrow scrutiny
an exact and minute report
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Narrow
Limited in extent, amount, or scope.
He had a narrow understanding of the subject.
William
Sep 06, 2023
Shallow vs. Narrow Frequently Asked Questions
Is a shallow pan good for frying?
A shallow pan is suitable for frying as it allows easy turning of the food.
Muneeza Rehman
Dec 01, 2023
Can narrow refer to a mindset?
Yes, someone can be described as having a narrow or limited perspective.
Muneeza Rehman
Dec 01, 2023
Why might someone be described as having narrow views?
It indicates they aren't open to diverse perspectives or ideas.
Jonathan
Dec 01, 2023
Does shallow always refer to physical depth?
No, shallow can also refer to a lack of depth in understanding or character.
Muneeza Rehman
Dec 01, 2023
Is shallow synonymous with superficial?
Yes, in many contexts, shallow and superficial can be used interchangeably.
Nolan
Dec 01, 2023
Can a discussion be shallow?
Yes, a discussion can be described as shallow if it lacks depth or substance.
Olivia
Dec 01, 2023
Can an argument be narrow?
Yes, if an argument doesn't consider broader perspectives, it can be termed narrow.
Muneeza Rehman
Dec 01, 2023
Can a river be both shallow and narrow?
Yes, a river can be not very deep (shallow) and not very wide (narrow).
Henry
Dec 01, 2023
Does narrow always indicate something negative?
No, narrow can be neutral, simply describing width or scope.
Muneeza Rehman
Dec 01, 2023
Are the terms shallow and deep opposites?
Yes, in terms of depth, shallow and deep are antonyms.
Jonathan
Dec 01, 2023
Content Creators
Written by
Muneeza RehmanAt Comparisons.wiki, Muneeza skillfully navigates the vast sea of information, ensuring clarity and accuracy as the lead content editor. With a keen eye for detail, she curates every comparison to enlighten and engage readers.
Edited by
Muazma BatoolAs a content editor, Muazma Batool is not just a grammar guru but a creative mastermind who breathes life into every word. With an eagle eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she transforms bland text into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives results.
