deep

[ deep ]
See synonyms for: deepdeeperdeepest on Thesaurus.com

adjective,deep·er, deep·est.
  1. extending far down from the top or surface: a deep well;a deep valley.

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

  1. extending far in width; broad: deep lace;a deep border.

  2. ranging far from the earth and sun: a deep space probe.

  3. having a specified dimension in depth: a tank 8 feet deep.

  4. covered or immersed to a specified depth (often used in combination): standing knee-deep in water.

  5. 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.

  6. extending or cutting far down relative to the surface of a given object: The knife made a deep scar in the table.

  7. situated far down, in, or back: deep below the surface;deep in the woods.

  8. reaching or advancing far down: a deep dive.

  9. coming from far down: a deep breath.

  10. made with the body bent or lowered to a considerable degree: a deep bow.

  11. immersed or submerged in or heavily covered with (followed by in): a road deep in mud.

  12. difficult to penetrate or understand; abstruse: a deep allegory.

  13. not superficial; profound: deep thoughts.

  14. grave or serious: deep disgrace.

  15. heartfelt; sincere: deep affections.

  16. absorbing; engrossing: deep study.

  17. great in measure; intense; extreme: deep sorrow.

  18. sound and heavy: deep sleep.

  19. (of colors) dark and vivid: a deep red.

  20. low in pitch, as sound, a voice, or the like: deep, sonorous tones.

  21. having penetrating intellectual powers: a deep scholar.

  22. profoundly cunning or artful: a deep and crafty scheme.

  23. mysterious; obscure: deep, dark secrets.

  24. immersed or involved; enveloped: a man deep in debt.

  25. absorbed; engrossed: deep in thought.

  26. Baseball. relatively far from home plate: He hit the ball into deep center field.

  27. 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.

  1. the part of greatest intensity, as of winter.

  2. Nautical. any of the unmarked levels, one fathom apart, on a deep-sea lead line.: Compare mark1 (def. 20).

  3. 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.

  1. Baseball. at or to a deep place or position: The outfielders played deep, knowing the batter's reputation as a slugger.

Idioms about deep

  1. go off the deep end,

    • to enter upon a course of action with heedless or irresponsible indifference to consequences.

    • to become emotionally overwrought.

  2. in deep,

    • inextricably involved.

    • having made or committed oneself to make a large financial investment.

  1. in deep water,

    • in difficult or serious circumstances; in trouble.

    • 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.

Origin of deep

1
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 dip1, dive

Other words for deep

Opposites for deep

Other words from deep

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

Words Nearby deep

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use deep in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for deep

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

  1. cricket relatively far from the pitch: the deep field; deep third man

    • (postpositive) of a specified dimension downwards, inwards, or backwards: six feet deep

    • (in combination): a six-foot-deep trench

  2. coming from or penetrating to a great depth: a deep breath

  3. difficult to understand or penetrate; abstruse

  4. learned or intellectually demanding: a deep discussion

  5. of great intensity; extreme: deep happiness; deep trouble

  6. (postpositive foll by in) absorbed or enveloped (by); engrossed or immersed (in): deep in study; deep in debt

  7. very cunning or crafty; devious: a deep plot

  8. mysterious or obscure: a deep secret

  9. (of a colour) having an intense or dark hue

  10. low in pitch or tone: a deep voice

  11. go off the deep end informal

    • to lose one's temper; react angrily

    • mainly US to act rashly

  12. in deep water in a tricky position or in trouble

  13. throw someone in at the deep end See end 1 (def. 28)

noun
  1. any deep place on land or under water, esp below 6000 metres (3000 fathoms)

  2. the deep

    • a poetic term for the ocean

    • cricket the area of the field relatively far from the pitch

  1. the most profound, intense, or central part: the deep of winter

  2. a vast extent, as of space or time

  3. 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

  1. deep down informal in reality, esp as opposed to appearance: she is a very kind person deep down

  2. deep in the past long ago

Origin of deep

1
Old English dēop; related to Old High German tiof deep, Old Norse djupr

Derived forms of deep

  • deeply, adverb
  • deepness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with deep

deep

In addition to the idioms beginning with deep

  • deep down
  • deep end
  • deep pocket
  • deep six
  • deep water

also see:

  • 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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.