deep
extending far down from the top or surface: a deep well;a deep valley.
extending far in or back from the front or from an edge, surface, opening, etc., considered as the front: a deep shelf.
extending far in width; broad: deep lace;a deep border.
ranging far from the earth and sun: a deep space probe.
having a specified dimension in depth: a tank 8 feet deep.
covered or immersed to a specified depth (often used in combination): standing knee-deep in water.
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.
extending or cutting far down relative to the surface of a given object: The knife made a deep scar in the table.
situated far down, in, or back: deep below the surface;deep in the woods.
reaching or advancing far down: a deep dive.
coming from far down: a deep breath.
made with the body bent or lowered to a considerable degree: a deep bow.
immersed or submerged in or heavily covered with (followed by in): a road deep in mud.
difficult to penetrate or understand; abstruse: a deep allegory.
not superficial; profound: deep thoughts.
grave or serious: deep disgrace.
absorbing; engrossing: deep study.
sound and heavy: deep sleep.
(of colors) dark and vivid: a deep red.
low in pitch, as sound, a voice, or the like: deep, sonorous tones.
having penetrating intellectual powers: a deep scholar.
profoundly cunning or artful: a deep and crafty scheme.
mysterious; obscure: deep, dark secrets.
immersed or involved; enveloped: a man deep in debt.
Baseball. relatively far from home plate: He hit the ball into deep center field.
Linguistics. belonging to an early stage in the transformational derivation of a sentence; belonging to the deep structure.
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).
a vast extent, as of space or time.
the part of greatest intensity, as of winter.
Nautical. any of the unmarked levels, one fathom apart, on a deep-sea lead line.: Compare mark1 (def. 20).
the deep, Chiefly Literary. the sea or ocean: He was laid to rest in the deep.
to or at a considerable or specified depth: The boat rode deep in the water.
far on in time: He claimed he could see deep into the future.
Baseball. at or to a deep place or position: The outfielders played deep, knowing the batter's reputation as a slugger.
Idioms about deep
go off the deep end,
to enter upon a course of action with heedless or irresponsible indifference to consequences.
to become emotionally overwrought.
in deep,
inextricably involved.
having made or committed oneself to make a large financial investment.
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
1Other 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use deep in a sentence
It came from the deeps of him—a few stammering words, simple, almost childish, yet exquisite as music.
Love's Pilgrimage | Upton SinclairThe music died away, and rose again; and the deeps of his spirit were opened, and ecstasy and grief welled up together within him.
Love's Pilgrimage | Upton SinclairThere was a deepening in the grey shallows of her eyes; they darted such light as comes only from the deeps.
The Creators | May SinclairThe reality of human progress never comes to the surface, it is a power in the deeps, an undertow.
The New Machiavelli | Herbert George WellsIts limitless deeps reveal themselves to us, and yet baffle our gaze: close themselves against research, but open to conjecture.
Toilers of the Sea | Victor Hugo
British Dictionary definitions for deep
/ (diːp) /
extending or situated relatively far down from a surface: a deep pool
extending or situated relatively far inwards, backwards, or sideways: a deep border of trees
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
coming from or penetrating to a great depth: a deep breath
difficult to understand or penetrate; abstruse
learned or intellectually demanding: a deep discussion
of great intensity; extreme: deep happiness; deep trouble
(postpositive foll by in) absorbed or enveloped (by); engrossed or immersed (in): deep in study; deep in debt
very cunning or crafty; devious: a deep plot
mysterious or obscure: a deep secret
(of a colour) having an intense or dark hue
low in pitch or tone: a deep voice
go off the deep end informal
to lose one's temper; react angrily
mainly US to act rashly
in deep water in a tricky position or in trouble
throw someone in at the deep end See end 1 (def. 28)
any deep place on land or under water, esp below 6000 metres (3000 fathoms)
the deep
a poetic term for the ocean
cricket the area of the field relatively far from the pitch
the most profound, intense, or central part: the deep of winter
a vast extent, as of space or time
nautical one of the intervals on a sounding lead, one fathom apart
far on in time; late: they worked deep into the night
profoundly or intensely
deep down informal in reality, esp as opposed to appearance: she is a very kind person deep down
deep in the past long ago
Origin of deep
1Derived 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
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.
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