depress

American  

[dih-pres] / dɪˈprɛs /

verb (used with object)

1. to make sad or gloomy; lower in spirits; deject; dispirit.

   Synonyms:

   sadden, discourage, dishearten

2. to lower in force, vigor, activity, etc.; weaken; make dull.

3. to lower in amount or value.

   Synonyms:

   cheapen, devalue

4. to put into a lower position.

   to depress the muzzle of a gun.

   Antonyms:

   elevate, raise

5. to press down.

6. Music. to lower in pitch.

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depress British  

/ dɪˈprɛs /

verb

1. to lower in spirits; make gloomy; deject

2. to weaken or lower the force, vigour, or energy of

3. to lower prices of (securities or a security market)

4. to press or push down

5. to lower the pitch of (a musical sound)

6. obsolete to suppress or subjugate

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Related Words

See oppress.

Other Word Forms

• depressibility noun
• depressible adjective
• overdepress verb (used with object)
• undepressible adjective

Etymology

Origin of depress

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English depressen, from Anglo-French, Old French depresser, from Latin dēpressus “pressed down” (past participle of dēprimere, equivalent to de- de- + -primere, combining form of premere “to press”); see pressure

Explanation

Depress means to lessen the activity or power of something. If you want to depress the spread of poverty, you need to find ways to slow it down, like by bringing education and skill-building resources into the poorest communities. The word depress comes from the Old French word depresser, meaning "put down by force." Depress can be used literally to describe something you push down, like when you depress the handle on a toaster to lower the bread. It can also describe a more figurative lowering, such as the lowering of a person's emotional state. Attending a funeral is likely to depress you, and watching a sad movie afterwards will just sink your spirits even more.

Example Sentences

If Meta hits its 2026 capex target, it will have little operational cash flow remaining for share buybacks; curtailing that cash-return program could depress the stock price.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Early estimates point to another healthy rate of growth, but the record 43-day shutdown in October and November could depress the final result.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 22, 2026

Early estimates point to another healthy rate of growth, but the record 43-day shutdown in October and November could depress the final result.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 22, 2026

She worries that if a company ends up hiring a worker on a lower wage, the practice will depress wages for everyone.

From Slate • Jan. 20, 2026

He had seen the pilot use it, had seen him depress the switch at his belt, so Brian pushed the switch in and blew into the mike.

From "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• afflict
• beat down
• bother
• damp
• dampen
• daunt
• discourage
• dishearten
• dismay
• dispirit
• disturb
• dull
• lower
• reduce
• sadden
• sap
• slow
• trouble
• upset
• weaken