deplete

American  

[dih-pleet] / dɪˈplit /

verb (used with object)

depleted, depleting

1. to decrease seriously or exhaust the abundance or supply of.

   The fire had depleted the game in the forest. Extravagant spending soon depleted his funds.

   Synonyms:

   lessen, consume, reduce, drain

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deplete British  

/ dɪˈpliːt /

verb

1. to use up (supplies, money, energy, etc); reduce or exhaust

2. to empty entirely or partially

3. med to empty or reduce the fluid contents of (an organ or vessel)

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Other Word Forms

• depletable adjective
• depletion noun
• depletive adjective
• depletory adjective
• nondepletable adjective
• nondepletion noun
• nondepletive adjective
• nondepletory adjective
• predeplete verb (used with object)
• predepletion noun
• undepleted adjective

Etymology

Origin of deplete

1800–10; < Latin dēplētus empty (past participle of dēplēre to empty out), equivalent to dē- de- + plē ( re ) to fill + -tus past participle suffix

Example Sentences

Depending on how depleted the reefs are and how strictly fishing is limited, recovery times were estimated to range from an average of six to 50 years.

From Science Daily

January, Byrne says, is an ideal time to notice which tasks, conversations or ways of working leave you feeling depleted.

From BBC

Yet they don’t provide longevity protection, prompting many retirees to underspend to avoid depleting their assets.

From The Wall Street Journal

The International Monetary Fund, which Argentina owes tens of billions of dollars, asked the government to step up its efforts to rebuild its depleted currency reserves.

From Barron's

He is however working with a depleted squad, with seven senior players already ruled out of the home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.

From BBC

Related Words

• bankrupt
• decrease
• diminish
• drain
• empty
• expend
• impoverish
• lessen
• reduce
• sap
• squander
• undermine
• use up
• weaken