deep

[deep]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR deep ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, deep·er, deep·est.

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.

heartfelt; sincere: deep affections.

absorbing; engrossing: deep study.

great in measure; intense; extreme: deep sorrow.

sound and heavy; profound: 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.

absorbed; engrossed: deep in thought.

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.

noun

the deep part of a body of water, especially an area of the ocean floor having a depth greater than 18,000 feet (5400 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.

adverb, deep·er, deep·est.

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.

profoundly; intensely.

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

Idioms

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

before 900; Middle English dep, Old English dēop; akin to Gothic diups, Old Norse djupr, Old High German tiof

Related formsdeep·ness, nounnon·deep, adjectiveo·ver·deep, adjectiveun·deep, adjectiveun·deep·ly, adverb

Synonyms for deep

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR deep ON THESAURUS.COM

14. recondite, mysterious, obscure, profound. 23. sagacious, wise, profound, shrewd.

Antonyms for deep

1, 10, 15–17, 23. shallow.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for deep

wide, rooted, profound, far, broad, deep-seated, buried, heavy, acute, complex, serious, hidden, difficult, tricky, sharp, great, vivid, hard, dark, rich

Examples from the Web for deep

Contemporary Examples of deep

Deep, situational, and emotional jokes based on what is relevant and has a POINT!
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie
Arthur Chu
January 9, 2015
As he drove me back to the logging road, Frank told me about the area in his deep voice.
The 7-Year-Old Plane Crash Survivor’s Brutal Journey Through the Woods
James Higdon
January 7, 2015
There was deep brown flesh, and bronze flesh, and pallid white flesh, and flesh turned red from the hot sun.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’
Asawin Suebsaeng
January 7, 2015
The state was in a deep recession as Duke galvanized a racial backlash.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise
Jason Berry
January 3, 2015
Marriott, with its deep history in the Mormon faith, portrays itself as a deeply ethical institution.
How ‘Ethical’ Hotel Chain Marriott Gouges Guests in the Name of Wi-Fi Security
Kyle Chayka
December 31, 2014

Historical Examples of deep

Eudora took it with a deep blush, saying, "Aspasia gave it to me."
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
During the whole of the ensuing day, Paralus continued in a deep sleep.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
Pericles seated himself near them, with deep sadness on his brow.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
Percival had walked the floor in deep attention to the old man's words.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
"That old boy is all right yet," he said, with deep conviction.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for deep

deep

adjective

extending or situated relatively far down from a surfacea deep pool

extending or situated relatively far inwards, backwards, or sidewaysa deep border of trees

cricket relatively far from the pitchthe deep field; deep third man

(postpositive)of a specified dimension downwards, inwards, or backwardssix feet deep
(in combination)a six-foot-deep trench

coming from or penetrating to a great deptha deep breath

difficult to understand or penetrate; abstruse

learned or intellectually demandinga deep discussion

of great intensity; extremedeep 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; deviousa deep plot

mysterious or obscurea deep secret

(of a colour) having an intense or dark hue

low in pitch or tonea deep voice

go off the deep end informal

to lose one's temper; react angrily
mainly USto act rashly

in deep water in a tricky position or in trouble

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

noun

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

the deep

a poetic term for the ocean
cricketthe area of the field relatively far from the pitch

the most profound, intense, or central partthe deep of winter

a vast extent, as of space or time

nautical one of the intervals on a sounding lead, one fathom apart

adverb

far on in time; latethey worked deep into the night

profoundly or intensely

deep down informal in reality, esp as opposed to appearanceshe is a very kind person deep down

deep in the past long ago

Derived Formsdeeply, adverbdeepness, noun

Word Origin for deep

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

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

Word Origin and History for deep

adj.

Old English deop "profound, awful, mysterious; serious, solemn; deepness, depth," deope (adv.), from Proto-Germanic *deupaz (cf. Old Saxon diop, Old Frisian diap, Dutch diep, Old High German tiof, German tief, Old Norse djupr, Danish dyb, Swedish djup, Gothic diups "deep"), from PIE *dheub- "deep, hollow" (cf. Lithuanian dubus "deep, hollow, Old Church Slavonic duno "bottom, foundation," Welsh dwfn "deep," Old Irish domun "world," via sense development from "bottom" to "foundation" to "earth" to "world").

Figurative senses were in Old English; extended 16c. to color, sound. Deep pocket "wealth" is from 1951. To go off the deep end "lose control of oneself" is slang first recorded 1921, probably in reference to the deep end of a swimming pool, where a person on the surface can no longer touch bottom. When 3-D films seemed destined to be the next wave and the biggest thing to hit cinema since talkies, they were known as deepies (1953).

Old English deop "deep water," especially the sea, from the source of deep (adj.).

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