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

The Chargers signed eighth-year offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill to their practice squad earlier in the week to add depth.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026

I mainly knew she liked “Twilight Zone,” but I didn’t realize the depth of it to the point where she named one of her kids after a character in a “Twilight Zone” episode.

From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026

The quake was registered at a shallow depth of 12 kilometers, meaning its impact was likely to be more severe.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

He adds: “Cybersecurity is all about having defense in depth, so having multiple lines of protection if one thing fails.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

I didn’t want to scare them with the depth of my grief, so I saved my tears for after they went to sleep, when Mamá and Daddy could comfort me.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson

He adds that, while some may see immortal love as the depths of romance, the idea “always seemed funny to us. What are the down-the-line implications of that?”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

Anyone hoping to prosper by holding a leveraged ETF for the long run should ponder Shōhaku’s lions tumbling into the depths of the gorge and the long, treacherous path back to the top.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

Not many recall his reported invocation of another work of Sanskrit poetry that reads, “In sleep, in confusion, in the depths of shame/The good deeds a man has done before defend him.”

From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026

Higher levels of CO2 can drive magma rapidly upward from deep underground, while water can become more important when magma spends more time at shallower depths.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026

He took Ivan’s staff and the sword into the ember-lit depths of the smithy, and then sunlight spilled in as the front door opened wide.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

Related Words

• acumen
• intellect
• intelligence
• sense