26984 words

deep

23 definitions • 45 examples
1
going or being a long way down from the top or surface, or being of a particular distance from the top to the bottom:

Examples:

a deep well/mine
a deep river/sea
a deep cut
The hole is so deep you can't see the bottom.
The water's not deep here - look, I can touch the bottom.
Drill 20 holes, each 2 inches deep.
take a deep breath Take a few deep breaths (= breaths that fill the lungs with air) and calm down.
2
having a large distance from one edge to the other, or having a particular distance from one edge to the other, especially the front and back edges:

Examples:

Is the alcove deep enough for bookshelves?
The wardrobe is 2 m high, 1 m wide and 60 cm deep.
By midnight, there were customers standing six deep (= in six rows) at the bar.
3
near the middle of something, and a long distance from its edges:

Examples:

Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother lived in a house deep in the forest.
4
very strongly felt or experienced and usually lasting a long time:

Examples:

Their son has been a deep disappointment to them.
We're in deep trouble.
She fell into a deep sleep.
5
(of a sound) low:

Examples:

6
showing or needing serious thought, or not easy to understand:

Examples:

His films are generally too deep for me.
7
In sports such as cricket and baseball, deep positions are far from where the batter is:

Examples:

The ball sailed towards the boundary in the direction of deep square leg.
The South African captain positioned deep fielders on each side of the ground.
The fielder caught the fly in deep right field.
8
(of a colour) strong and dark:

Examples:

The sky was deep blue.
9
a long way from the top or surface:

Examples:

deep under The submarine sailed deep under the ice cap.
deep in He thrust his hands deep in his pockets.
10
In sports such as football, rugby, orice hockey , staying closer than usual to your own team's goal:

Examples:

play deep Some midfielders play deep, having a more defensive role, while others go forward.
Capper played deep, relishing the competition in midfield areas.
At 2–0 up, Cambridge played deep, inviting the opposition to attack.
The manager was yelling at the team that they were defending too deep.
11
the sea or the ocean:

Examples:

The sailors were lost to the deep.
12
going or being a long way down from the top or surface, or being at a particular distance down from the top:

Examples:

She had a deep cut on her left arm.
During the flood, the water in the basement was knee-deep (= it would reach the knees of an average adult).
13
having a (sometimes stated) distance from front to back:

Examples:

I want the bookcase shelves to be 12 inches deep.
The crowd along the parade route was six deep (= in six rows).
14
strongly felt or experienced, or having a strong and lasting effect:

Examples:

Our deep love for each other will last forever.
He awoke from a deep sleep.
Joseph, deep in thought (= thinking so much that he is not aware of others), didn’t hear Erin enter the room.
15
difficult to understand; complicated:

Examples:

His book on how the brain works is too deep for me.
16
(of a sound) low:

Examples:

He was a large man with a deep voice.
17
(of a color) strong and dark:

Examples:

The sky is a deep blue.
18
very large or serious:

Examples:

19

Examples:

But the question is whether any business strategy can save a company in such deep trouble.
20
to be in or get into serious trouble:

Examples:

The main problem's going to be cash flow. It's the same in any business that gets into deep water.
21
owing a very large amount of money:

Examples:

Why are the banks willing to allow people like this to get even deeper into debt?
22
if you say that an organization or a person has deep pockets, you mean that they have a lot of money to spend:

Examples:

The sleek new car promises to do well, but it takes deep pockets to market premium cars across Europe.
23
to start, or make someone start, doing something new and difficult without help or preparation:

Examples:

When new people start in our call centre, we give them basic training in all our systems and then throw them in at the deep end on day one.

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