deep

[ deep ]

adjective

, deep·er, deep·est.

1. extending far down from the top or surface:

   a deep well;

   a deep valley.

   Antonyms: shallow

2. extending far in or back from the front or from an edge, surface, opening, etc., considered as the front:

   a deep shelf.

3. extending far in width; broad:

   deep lace;

   a deep border.

4. ranging far from the earth and sun:

   a deep space probe.

5. having a specified dimension in depth:

   a tank 8 feet deep.

6. covered or immersed to a specified depth (often used in combination):

   standing knee-deep in water.

7. having a specified width or number of items from front to back (often used in combination):

   shelves that are 10 inches deep;

   cars lined up at the entrance gates three-deep.

8. extending or cutting far down relative to the surface of a given object:

   The knife made a deep scar in the table.

9. situated far down, in, or back:

   deep below the surface;

   deep in the woods.

10. reaching or advancing far down:

    a deep dive.

    Antonyms: shallow

11. coming from far down:

    a deep breath.

12. made with the body bent or lowered to a considerable degree:

    a deep bow.

13. immersed or submerged in or heavily covered with (followed by in ):

    a road deep in mud.

14. difficult to penetrate or understand; abstruse:

    a deep allegory.

    Synonyms: obscure, mysterious, recondite

15. not superficial; profound:

    deep thoughts.

16. grave or serious:

    deep disgrace.

17. heartfelt; sincere:

    deep affections.

18. absorbing; engrossing:

    deep study.

19. great in measure; intense; extreme:

    deep sorrow.

20. sound and heavy:

    deep sleep.

21. (of colors) dark and vivid:

    a deep red.

22. low in pitch, as sound, a voice, or the like:

    deep, sonorous tones.

23. having penetrating intellectual powers:

    a deep scholar.

    Synonyms: sagacious, shrewd, intelligent, wise

24. profoundly cunning or artful:

    a deep and crafty scheme.

25. mysterious; obscure:

    deep, dark secrets.

26. immersed or involved; enveloped:

    a man deep in debt.

27. absorbed; engrossed:

    deep in thought.

28. Baseball. relatively far from home plate:

    He hit the ball into deep center field.

29. Linguistics. belonging to an early stage in the transformational derivation of a sentence; belonging to the deep structure.

noun

1. the deep part of a body of water, especially an area of the ocean floor having a depth greater than 18,000 feet (5,400 meters).
2. a vast extent, as of space or time.
3. the part of greatest intensity, as of winter.
4. Nautical. any of the unmarked levels, one fathom apart, on a deep-sea lead line. Compare mark ¹( def 20 ).
5. the deep, Chiefly Literary. the sea or ocean:

   He was laid to rest in the deep.

adverb

, deep·er, deep·est.

1. to or at a considerable or specified depth:

   The boat rode deep in the water.

2. far on in time:

   He claimed he could see deep into the future.

3. profoundly; intensely.
4. Baseball. at or to a deep place or position:

   The outfielders played deep, knowing the batter's reputation as a slugger.

deep

/ diːp /

adjective

1. extending or situated relatively far down from a surface

   a deep pool

2. extending or situated relatively far inwards, backwards, or sideways

   a deep border of trees

3. cricket relatively far from the pitch

   the deep field

   deep third man

4. 1. postpositive of a specified dimension downwards, inwards, or backwards

      six feet deep

   2. ( in combination )

      a six-foot-deep trench

5. coming from or penetrating to a great depth

   a deep breath

6. difficult to understand or penetrate; abstruse
7. learned or intellectually demanding

   a deep discussion

8. of great intensity; extreme

   deep happiness

   deep trouble

9. postpositivefoll byin absorbed or enveloped (by); engrossed or immersed (in)

   deep in debt

   deep in study

10. very cunning or crafty; devious

    a deep plot

11. mysterious or obscure

    a deep secret

12. (of a colour) having an intense or dark hue
13. low in pitch or tone

    a deep voice

14. go off the deep end informal.
    1. to lose one's temper; react angrily
    2. to act rashly
15. in deep water
    in a tricky position or in trouble
16. throw someone in at the deep end
    See end 1

noun

1. any deep place on land or under water, esp below 6000 metres (3000 fathoms)
2. the deep
   1. a poetic term for the ocean
   2. cricket the area of the field relatively far from the pitch
3. the most profound, intense, or central part

   the deep of winter

4. a vast extent, as of space or time
5. nautical one of the intervals on a sounding lead, one fathom apart

adverb

1. far on in time; late

   they worked deep into the night

2. profoundly or intensely
3. deep down informal.
   in reality, esp as opposed to appearance

   she is a very kind person deep down

4. deep in the past
   long ago

Derived Forms

• ˈdeeply, adverb
• ˈdeepness, noun

Other Words From

• deep·ness noun
• non·deep adjective
• o·ver·deep adjective
• un·deep adjective
• un·deep·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of deep¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English dep, Old English dēop; akin to Gothic diups, Old Norse djupr, Dutch diep, Old High German tiof; akin to dip ¹( def ), dive ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of deep¹

Old English dēop; related to Old High German tiof deep, Old Norse djupr

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go off the deep end,
   1. to enter upon a course of action with heedless or irresponsible indifference to consequences.
   2. to become emotionally overwrought.
2. in deep water,
   1. in difficult or serious circumstances; in trouble.
   2. in a situation beyond the range of one's capability or skill:

      You're a good student, but you'll be in deep water in medical school.

3. in deep,
   1. inextricably involved.
   2. having made or committed oneself to make a large financial investment.

More idioms and phrases containing deep

• beauty is only skin deep
• between a rock and a hard place (devil and deep blue sea)
• go off the deep end
• in deep
• still waters run deep

Example Sentences

Three trips deep into the red zone had come up short.

From Los Angeles Times

AJ: I look at countries like the U.K. and others that are doing a deep dive into what went right and what went wrong.

From Salon

Protected by sheer cliffs, jagged mountains and limestone caves, these plants and animals have thrived deep in the earth.

From BBC

Currently, someone with either condition could receive deep brain stimulation for treatment, but since the amygdala is located deep within the brain, directly behind the eyes, it means having an invasive, surgical procedure.

From Science Daily

Like other retail workers, Gail’s shop store room is deep in the throes of getting stock ready for the festive rush.

From BBC

Related Words

• ocean