tropical depression

American  

[trop-i-kuhl di-presh-uhn] / ˈtrɒp ɪ kəl dɪˈprɛʃ ən /

noun

Meteorology.

1. an atmospheric low-pressure system originating in the tropics, specifically, a tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained wind speed is 38 miles per hour (62 kilometers per hour) or less.

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tropical depression British  

noun

1. an area of heavy rains and winds, the first stage in the development of a possible hurricane

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tropical depression Scientific  

1. A tropical cyclone having sustained surface winds less than 39 mi (63 km) per hour.

2. See Note at cyclone

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Etymology

Origin of tropical depression

First recorded in 1845–50; tropical + depression (in the sense “low atmospheric pressure”

Compare meaning

How does tropical-depression compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• tropical depression vs. tropical storm

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tropical depression

Bertha is forecast to weaken back to a tropical depression on Thursday and may dissipate by the end of the week as it nears the Texas coast.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

The country is also already preparing for another storm, tropical depression Paolo, that is expected to make landfall in the northern Philippines this Friday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2025

Another batch of storms is swirling near Texas at the moment and could form into a tropical depression, according to forecasts from the National Hurricane Center.

From Slate ● Jun. 17, 2024

The storm began to organize itself on Sunday morning, first as a tropical depression.

From New York Times ● Oct. 25, 2023

The Hong Kong Observatory said on its website that Koinu was weakening from a typhoon into a tropical depression as it moved southwest along the coast of China’s Guangdong province.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 9, 2023