Shallowly

Shallowly is an English adverb formed from the adjective shallow. It denotes performing an action with little depth, range, or seriousness. The primary senses are physical depth and figurative depth.

In physical contexts, shallowly describes movement or state in a shallow environment or with limited depth. For example, a fish may swim shallowly near the shore, or a trench may be dug shallowly. In everyday usage, speakers more often use phrases like in shallow water or near the shore rather than relying on the adverb alone.

In figurative contexts, shallowly describes a treatment of a topic that lacks depth or thoroughness. For instance, a review or analysis might be criticized as having been shallowly considered. In such cases, writers often substitute synonyms such as superficially or without depth to convey the intended sense more naturally.

Etymology and usage notes: The adverb is created by adding -ly to the adjective shallow. Shallowly can carry a slightly evaluative nuance, suggesting insufficiency or a lack of profundity. It is less common in modern prose than terms like superficially, and some readers may find it stylistically stilted in certain contexts.

Related terms include shallow (the adjective), shallowness (the noun), and superficially as a common synonym in contexts describing depth or thoroughness. Overall, shallowly serves a narrow range of meanings aligned with limited depth, whether physical or conceptual.