depth

American  

[depth] / dɛpθ /

noun

• depths
  plural

1. a dimension taken through an object or body of material, usually downward from an upper surface, horizontally inward from an outer surface, or from top to bottom of something regarded as one of several layers.

2. the quality of being deep; deepness.

3. complexity or obscurity, as of a subject.

   a question of great depth.

4. gravity; seriousness.

   I don't think you recognize the depth of the problem.

   Synonyms:

   weight, significance, importance, import

5. emotional profundity.

   the depth of someone's feelings.

6. intensity, as of silence, color, etc.

7. lowness of tonal pitch.

   the depth of a voice.

8. the amount of knowledge, intelligence, wisdom, insight, feeling, etc., present in a person's mind or evident either in some product of the mind, as a learned paper, argument, work of art, etc., or in the person's behavior.

9. a high degree of such knowledge, insight, etc.

10. Often depths a deep part or place.

    from the depths of the ocean.

11. an unfathomable space; abyss.

    the depth of time.

12. Sometimes depths the farthest, innermost, or extreme part or state.

    the depth of space;

    the depths of the forest;

    the depths of despair.

13. Usually depths. a low intellectual or moral condition.

    How could he sink to such depths?

14. the part of greatest intensity, as of night or winter.

15. Sports. the strength of a team in terms of the number and quality of its substitute players.

    With no depth in the infield, an injury to any of the regulars would be costly.

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idioms

1. in depth, extensively or thoroughly.

   Make a survey in depth of the conditions.

2. out of / beyond one's depth,

   1. in water deeper than one's height or too deep for one's safety.

   2. beyond one's knowledge or capability.

      The child is being taught subjects that are beyond his depth.

depth British  

/ dɛpθ /

noun

1. the extent, measurement, or distance downwards, backwards, or inwards

2. the quality of being deep; deepness

3. intensity or profundity of emotion or feeling

4. profundity of moral character; penetration; sagacity; integrity

5. complexity or abstruseness, as of thought or objects of thought

6. intensity, as of silence, colour, etc

7. lowness of pitch

8. nautical the distance from the top of a ship's keel to the top of a particular deck

9. (often plural) a deep, far, inner, or remote part, such as an inaccessible region of a country

10. (often plural) the deepest, most intense, or most severe part

    the depths of winter

11. (usually plural) a low moral state; demoralization

    how could you sink to such depths?

12. (often plural) a vast space or abyss

13. 1. in water deeper than one is tall

    2. beyond the range of one's competence or understanding

14. thoroughly or comprehensively See also in-depth

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depth More Idioms  

1. see in depth; out of one's depth.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• depthless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• depths
  plural

Etymology

Origin of depth

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English depthe, equivalent to deep + -th ¹

Explanation

Depth is the measure of how deep something goes. The swimming pool has a depth of six feet. The well has an unknown depth. People can be deep as well—you know by looking at some people that they have depth. Depth goes with other measure words that end in "th." Length is how long something is. Breadth is how wide or broad. The expression "plumb the depths" means to take a measure of how deep something goes. Depth also can mean deepness—your English teacher might instruct you to write papers with depth.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

depth depths

There remains debate over whether Chelsea have sufficient depth and quality in midfield, with the club retaining the option of revisiting a move for Camara or another midfielder in January.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

“They’re just really naive girls who are way out of their depth, and that really shows on every level,” O’Brien said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

Experiencing it firsthand—walking through markets, smelling charcoal smoke and watching people cook—gave him a better understanding of how to build that depth of flavor into his own cooking.

From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2026

The drawback is that the novels are all surface, lacking the interiority and character development that provide immersion and depth.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Returning, I had to cross before the looking-glass; my fascinated glance involuntarily explored the depth it revealed.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

With the narwhals plumbing the cold depths of the Arctic ocean, "we can sit at our warm offices and drink coffee while the data comes in," he added.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

Ms. Lichty’s awkward performance leaves a void at the play’s center, true, but even the actors of note, fine as they are, cannot bring unwritten depths to their shallow characters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

As the water level at Lake Mead has plunged to a historic low, more human remains are emerging from the depths of the nation’s largest reservoir.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

Meanwhile, new manger Roberto de Zerbi is hoping to drag the men's side up from the depths.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

Now an old rowboat was all that separated her from the murky depths.

From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown

Related Words

• acumen
• intellect
• intelligence
• sense