Word.ws English Dictionary

deep

/diːp/

deep adjective: extending far down from the top, or surface, to the bottom, literally or figuratively.

Adjective

deep (comparative deeper or more deep, superlative deepest or most deep)

  1. (also, figuratively) Extending far down from the top, or surface, to the bottom, literally or figuratively.
    • The lake is extremely deep.
    • We hiked into a deep valley between tall mountains.
  2. (also, figuratively) Positioned far from the surface or other reference point, especially down through something or into something.
    • Diving down to deep wrecks can be dangerous.
    • I can't get the bullet out – it's too deep.
  3. (also, figuratively) Positioned far from the boundaries of or main approaches to (the specified place); interior.
    • He [the panda] comes from deepest Asia , high up in the remote mountains of Szechwan and Kansu. In addition to that he is further protected by the fact that he lives in the secure fastnesses of the bamboo jungles.1951, Roy Chapman Andrews, Nature's Ways; how Nature Takes Care of Its Own, page 147
    • Impressive though Egyptian culture was, it was in deep Africa that Jung came closer to understanding himself as a man.1999, Vivianne Crowley, Jung: A Journey of Transformation, page 91
  4. (also, figuratively) Far in extent in another (non-downwards, but generally also non-upwards) direction, especially front-to-back.
    • The shelves are 30 centimetres deep. — They are deep shelves.
    • That cyclist's deep chest allows him to draw more air.
    Synonyms:
    thick
  5. (also, figuratively, in-compounds) Extending to a level or length equivalent to the stated thing.
    • The water was waist-deep.
    • There is an arm-deep hole in the wall.
  6. (also, figuratively) In a (specified) number of rows or layers.
    • a crowd four deep along the funeral procession, with people two deep on the sidewalks
    • The fleet of ships was fifty sail deep.
  7. (also, figuratively) Voluminous.
    • to take a deep breath / sigh / drink
    • Serene, smiling, enigmatic, she faced him with no fear whatever showing in her dark eyes.[…]She put back a truant curl from her forehead where it had sought egress to the world, and looked him full in the face now, drawing a deep breath which caused the round of her bosom to lift the lace at her...1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC
    Synonyms:
    great, large, voluminous
  8. (also, figuratively) Far from the center of the playing area, near to the boundary of the playing area, either in absolute terms or relative to a point of reference.
    • He is fielding at deep mid wicket.
    • She hit a ball into deep center field.
  9. (also, figuratively, sports such as soccer) Penetrating a long way, especially a long way forward.
    • a deep volley
    • a deep run into the opposition half
  10. (also, figuratively, sports such as soccer) Positioned back, or downfield, towards one's own goal, or towards or behind one's baseline or similar reference point.
    • Our defensive live is too deep. We need to move further up the field.
    • She returns serve from a very deep position.
  11. (also, figuratively, often) Further into the body.
    • the brachialis is deep to the biceps
    • The superficial fascia surrounds the body and includes subcutaneous fat; the deep fascia surrounds the musculoskeletal system; the meningeal fascia surrounds the nervous system; the visceral fascia surrounds body cavities and organs.2018 November 8, Dr. Melina Jampolis, “The real science behind fascia ailments”, in CNN
    Antonyms:
    superficial
  12. (intellectual, social) Profound, having great meaning or import, but possibly obscure or not obvious.
    • That is a deep thought!
Show 9 more meaningsShow fewer meanings
  1. (intellectual, social) Significant, not superficial, in extent.
    • Your analysis does not cut deep enough yet.
    • They're in deep discussion.
  2. (intellectual, social) Hard to penetrate or comprehend; profound; intricate; obscure.
    • a deep subject or plot
    • Why it was that the ancients had no landscape painting, is a question deep almost as the mystery of life, and harder of solution than all the problems of jurisprudence combined.c. 1840, Thomas De Quincey
  3. (intellectual, social) Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial; thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning.
    • Deepe clearks ſhe dumb'sc. 1607–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, [George Wilkins?], The Late, and Much Admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. […], London: […] [William White and Thomas Creede] for Henry...
    • I never said I was deep, but I am profoundly shallow / My lack of knowledge is vast, and my horizons are narrow2009, Jarvis Cocker, “I Never Said I Was Deep”, in Further Complications.
  4. (intellectual, social) Inner, underlying, true; relating to one’s inner or private being rather than what is visible on the surface.
    • Or doth she only seem to take
      ⁠The touch of change in calm or storm;
      ⁠But knows no more of transient form
      In her deep self, than some dead lake
      That holds the shadow of a lark
      ⁠Hung in the shadow of a heaven?1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XVI”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 26
  5. (sound, voice) Low in pitch.
    • She has a very deep contralto voice.
    • The departure was not unduly prolonged.[…]Within the door Mrs. Spoker hastily imparted to Mrs. Love a few final sentiments on the subject of Divine Intention in the disposition of buckets; farewells and last commiserations; a deep, guttural instigation to the horse; and the wheels of the waggonette...1921, Ben Travers, chapter 5, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC
    Synonyms:
    low, low-pitched
  6. Highly saturated; rich.
    • That's a very deep shade of blue.
    • The spices impart a deep flavour to the dish.
    Synonyms:
    bright, rich, vivid
  7. (sleep) Sound, heavy (describing a state of sleep from which one is not easily awoken).
    • He was in a deep sleep.
    Synonyms:
    fast, heavy
  8. Muddy; boggy; sandy; said of roads.
    • The ways in that vale were very deep.1702–1704, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, (please specify |book=I to XVI), in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed...
  9. Distant in the past, ancient.
    • deep time
    • in the deep past

Adverb

deep (comparative deeper or more deep, superlative deepest or most deep)

  1. Far, especially far down through something or into something, physically or figuratively.
    • The ogre lived in a cave deep underground.
    • We ventured deep into the forest.
  2. (also deeply) In a profound, not superficial, manner.
    • I thought long and deep.
    • deep-laid
  3. (also deeply) In large volume.
    • breathe deep, drink deep
    • A little Learning is a dang'rous Thing; / Drink deep, or taſte not the Pierian Spring:1711 May, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Criticism, London: […] W[illiam] Lewis […]; and sold by W[illiam] Taylor […], T[homas] Osborn[e] […], and J[ohn] Graves […], →OCLC, page 14
  4. Back towards one's own goal, baseline, or similar.
    • He's normally a midfield player, but today he's playing deep.

Noun

deep (countable and uncountable, plural deeps)

  1. (literary, with-definite-article) The deep part of a lake, sea or ocean.
    • creatures of the deep
  2. (with-definite-article) The sea, the ocean.
    • How few! yet how they creep / Through my fingers to the deep, / While I weep—while I weep! / O God! can I not grasp / Them with a tighter clasp?1849 March 31, Edgar Allan Poe, “A Dream Within a Dream”, in The Works of the Late Edgar Allan Poe: […], volumes II (Poems and Miscellanies), New York, N.Y.: J. S. Redfield, […], published 1850...
  3. A deep hole or pit, a water well; an abyss.
    • Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterfalls: All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.Psalm 42 verse 7
  4. A deep or innermost part of something in general.
    • And what delights can equal those
      ⁠That stir the spirit’s inner deeps,
      ⁠When one that loves but knows not, reaps
      A truth from one that loves and knows?1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XLI”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 64
  5. (literary, with-definite-article) A silent time; quiet isolation.
    • the deep of night
  6. (rare) A deep shade of colour.
    • For our blues we have the azures and ceruleans, lapis lazulis, the light and dusty, the powder blues, the deeps: royal, sapphire, navy, and marine […]2014, William H. Gass, On Being Blue: A Philosophical Inquiry, page 59
  7. (US, rare) The profound part of a problem.
  8. A fielding position near the boundary.
    • Russell is a safe pair of hands in the deep.
  9. (slang) A deep hotel pan.
    • Coordinate term: shallow

Verb

deep (third-person singular simple present deeps, present participle deeping, simple past and past participle deeped)

  1. (Multicultural-London-English, slang, transitive) To overthink; to treat as being deeper (“more profound, significant”) than in reality.
    • ― Ugh, why are these road markings so awfully arranged?
      ― Quit deeping it bro, just drive, innit.
  2. (Multicultural-London-English, slang, transitive) To think about, especially deeply (“profoundly”); to consider.
    • No Picasso, I don't care about resistance (Deep dat).2019 October 25, “Fact”performed by J. Mulla, MBandz
    • I think I better leave it. I don't wanna beat it, this is not a Michael phase. Every time I deep it, man dem wan' eat it. Trying to recycle, babe.2020 February 10, “Daffy Duckin'”performed by Angel, Chaz Marcus

Proper noun capitalized: Deep

Deep (plural Deeps)

  1. A surname.

deep meaning in Hindi, Tamil, Marathi and Urdu

deep in Hindi

having its bottom far down
गहरा gahrā

deep in Tamil

ஆழமான

deep in Marathi

deep, continuous, loud sound
घोष ghoṣ
deep, profound
गहन gahan
deep, intense, dense
गहिरे gahire
deep
खोल khol

deep in Urdu

having its bottom far down
گہرا gahrā
More languagesFewer languages
deep in Bengali
গভীর gobhir
deep in Telugu
లోతు lōtu, లోతుగా lōtugā
deep in Malayalam
കുണ്ടൻ kuṇṭaṉ
deep in Kannada
ಆಳವಾದ, ಆಳದ, ಗುಂಡಿತ್ತು, ಗುಂಡಿತು
deep in Punjabi
ਡੂੰਘਾ ḍūṅghā, ਗੂੜ੍ਹਾ gūṛhā, ਕਰਾਰਾ karārā
deep in Gujarati
ઊંડું ū̃ḍũ, સખત sakhat
deep in Odia
ଗଭୀର gabhira
deep in Sanskrit
गभीर gabhīra, निम्न nimna
deep in Sinhala
ගැඹුරු gæᵐburu
deep in Assamese
দ do
deep in Nepali
गाढा gāḍhā
deep in Pashto
ژور žëwër
deep in Tagalog
dep, malalim
deep in Arabic
عَمِيق ʕamīq, غَوِيط ḡawīṭ
deep in Malay
dalam, tua
deep in Persian
گود gowd, عمیق 'amiq, ژرف žarf, چوقور čûqûr
deep in Thai
ลึก lʉ́k
deep in Vietnamese
sâu sắc, sâu, trầm, đậm
deep in Myanmar
နက် nak

Examples of deep in a sentence

  • There was a deep layer of dust on the floor; the room had not been disturbed for many years.
  • In the mid-1970s, the economy went into a deep recession.
  • We are in deep trouble.
  • His problems lie deep in the subconscious.
  • Smooth runnes the Water, where the Brooke is deepe,1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, &...
  • While Britain’s recession has been deep and unforgiving, in London it has been relatively shallow.2013 September 28, Kenan Malik, “London Is Special, but Not That Special”, in New York Times, retrieved 28 Sep 2013:

All 40 example sentences with deep

Synonyms of deep

3 more synonymsFewer synonyms

Antonyms

3 more antonymsFewer antonyms

All synonyms and antonyms of deep

Forms of deep

Adjective
comparativedeeper
comparativemore deep
superlativedeepest
superlativemost deep
alternative form (obsolete)deepe
Adverb
comparativedeeper
comparativemore deep
superlativedeepest
superlativemost deep
Noun
pluraldeeps
Verb
third-person singular presentdeeps
present participledeeping
past participledeeped
pastdeeped
Proper noun
pluralDeeps

Origin of deep

From Middle English dep, deep, depe, from Old English dēop (“deep, profound; awful, mysterious; heinous; serious, solemn, earnest; extreme, great”), from Proto-West Germanic *deup, from Proto-Germanic *deupaz (“deep”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ- (“deep”). Cognates Cognate with Scots depe (“deep”), North Frisian diip, jip (“deep”), Saterland Frisian djoop (“deep”), West Frisian djip (“deep”), Dutch diep (“deep”), Low German deep (“deep”), Luxembourgish déif (“deep”), Central Franconian deep, deef (“deep”), German tief (“deep”), Alemannic German tüüf (“deep”), Mòcheno tiaf (“deep”), Vilamovian tif, tīf, tiif (“deep”), Yiddish טיף (tif, “deep”), Danish dyb (“deep”), Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish djup (“deep”), Scanian djyber (“deep”), Norwegian Bokmål djup, dyp (“deep”), Faroese and Icelandic djúpur (“deep”), Gothic 𐌳𐌹𐌿𐍀𐍃 (diups, “deep”), Lithuanian dubùs (“deep, hollow”), Albanian det (“sea”), Welsh dwfn (“deep”).

Two main origins: * From the adjective deep, either a topographic surname for someone who lived in a deep valley, or a nickname for a deep and thoughtful person. * Borrowed from Punjabi ਦੀਪ (dīp), from Sanskrit दीप (dīpa).

Words formed from deep

Phrases with deep

140 more phrasesFewer phrases

Words that rhyme with deep

30 more rhymesFewer rhymes

Questions about deep

What does deep mean?
Deep means extending far down from the top, or surface, to the bottom, literally or figuratively.
What is deep in Hindi?
Deep in Hindi is गहरा (gahrā). See Deep meaning in Hindi.
How do you use deep in a sentence?
There was a deep layer of dust on the floor; the room had not been disturbed for many years.
What part of speech is deep?
Deep can be an adjective, an adverb, a noun or a verb.
How do you pronounce deep?
Deep is pronounced /diːp/.

Words near deep in the dictionary

  1. deeners
  2. DeEntremont
  3. Deentremonts
  4. deeny dawny
  5. Deeon
  6. deep
  7. deep abscess
  8. deep abscesses
  9. deep adaptation
  10. deep and meaningful
  11. deep and meaningfuls

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: deep (page history and authors); Deep (page history and authors); deep (Tamil Wiktionary) (page history and authors); खोल (Marathi) (page history and authors); കുണ്ടൻ (Malayalam) (page history and authors); deep (Kannada Wiktionary) (page history and authors); ਕਰਾਰਾ (Punjabi) (page history and authors); ઊંડું (Gujarati) (page history and authors); ගැඹුරු (Sinhala) (page history and authors); गाढा (Nepali) (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated:

Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: en-us-deep.ogg, en-au-deep.ogg.

Cite this entry: “deep.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/deep. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.