deep

adjective

\ˈdēp

Definition of deep

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : extending far from some surface or area: such as

a : extending far downward a deep well a deep chasm

b(1) : extending well inward from an outer surface a deep gash a deep-chested animal

(2) : not located superficially within the body deep pressure receptors in muscles

c : extending well back from a surface accepted as front a deep closet

d : extending far laterally from the center deep borders of lace

e sports : occurring or located near the outer limits of the playing area hit to deep right field

f sports : thrown or hit for a considerable distance : thrown or hit deep (see deep entry 2 sense 3b) a deep pass a deep fly ball

2 : having a specified extension in an implied direction usually downward or backward a shelf 20 inches deep cars parked three-deep

3a : difficult to penetrate or comprehend : recondite deep mathematical problems deep discussions on the meaning of life

b : mysterious, obscure a deep dark secret

c : grave or lamentable in nature or effect in deepest disgrace

d : of penetrating intellect : wise a deep thinker

e : intensely engrossed or immersed she was deep in her book

f : characterized by profundity of feeling or quality a deep sleep also : deep-seated deep religious beliefs

4a of color : high in saturation and low in lightness a deep red

b : having a low musical pitch (see pitch entry 4 sense 4b) or pitch range a deep voice

5a : situated well within the boundaries a house deep in the woods

b : remote in time or space found deep in rural England

c : being below the level of consciousness deep neuroses

d : covered, enclosed, or filled to a specified degree —usually used in combination ankle-deep in mud

6 : large deep discounts

7 : having many good players a deep bull pen

in deep water

: in difficulty or distress

deep

adverb

Definition of deep (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : to a great depth : deeply still waters run deep tunneled deep into the earth

2 : far on : late danced deep into the night

3 sports

a : near the outer limits of the playing area the shortstop was playing deep

b : long sense 6 threw deep to the wide receiver hit the ball deep to right field

deep

noun

Definition of deep (Entry 3 of 3)

1a : a vast or immeasurable extent : abyss

b(1) : the extent of surrounding space or time the azure deep

(2) nautical : ocean the briny deep

2 : any of the deep portions of a body of water specifically : a generally long and narrow area in the ocean where the depth exceeds 3000 fathoms (5500 meters) the Aldrich Deep in the south Pacific

3 : the middle or most intense part in the deep of winter

4 nautical : any of the fathom points on a sounding line other than the marks (see mark entry 1 sense 2b)

Other Words from deep Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about deep

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Choose the Right Synonym for deep

Adjective

broad, wide, deep mean having horizontal extent. broad and wide apply to a surface measured or viewed from side to side. a broad avenue wide is more common when units of measurement are mentioned rugs eight feet wide or applied to unfilled space between limits. a wide doorway broad is preferred when full horizontal extent is considered. broad shoulders deep may indicate horizontal extent away from the observer or from a front or peripheral point. a deep cupboard deep woods

Examples of deep in a Sentence

Adjective

We walked in the deep snow. a deep valley between the mountains The water is deepest in the middle of the lake. She's afraid of swimming in deep water. a plant with deep roots The house has lots of deep closets. She has a small but deep wound on her arm. This enormous canyon is over a mile deep. The shelves are 10 inches deep. He stepped into an ankle-deep puddle of mud.

Adverb

The ship now lies deep below the water's surface. Our feet sank deeper into the mud. The treasure was buried deep within the ground. Their secret offices were located deep underground. We walked deep into the forest. The soldiers are operating deep within enemy territory. I stood three feet deep in the water. He stepped ankle-deep into a puddle of mud.

Noun

the kind of cold weather that we usually have only in the deep of winter sailors exploring the farther reaches of the briny deep

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Some that aren’t good enough to qualify in one cycle may be primed for a deep run only four years later. — Brian Straus, SI.com, "The Factors and Figures Behind Europe's World Cup Dominance Trend," 8 July 2018 Yes, Croatia may have one of the best individual players in the tournament with what Luka Modric has done in matching the deepest run ever by the country. — Tim Booth, BostonGlobe.com, "Weary, banged-up Croatia resting up for England in semifinals," 8 July 2018 But if the French get past Uruguay on Friday and continue their latest deep run in a World Cup, Pavard’s goal will loom ever larger. — Christopher Clarey, New York Times, "Benjamin Pavard, and His World Cup Highlight, Came Out of Nowhere," 4 July 2018 While the Lakers and Warriors might be more attractive as far as a chance to make deep playoff runs, the Hornets can likely offer Evans more money and playing time next season. — Rick Bonnell, charlotteobserver, "Charlotte Hornets' search for a big guard could end in Memphis," 2 July 2018 The team was found about two miles deep into the Tham Luang Nang Non cavern, located in the Chiang Rai province in the country’s north. — J. Weston Phippen, Outside Online, "The Thai Soccer Team Trapped in a Cave Was Found Alive," 2 July 2018 The search has been going slowly, largely because flooding has blocked rescuers from going through chambers to get deeper into the cave. — Tassanee Vejpongsa, Fox News, "Thai divers make little progress in murky cave search," 1 July 2018 With O'Connor now out of the picture in the midst of Louisville City's USL Cup defense and his now-former team in the middle of a deep run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, one of the best aspects of Louisville's rivalry with FC Cincinnati is gone. — Patrick Brennan, Cincinnati.com, "See you in MLS: Louisville City FC coach James O'Connor bound for Orlando City SC," 29 June 2018 Spegal gives New Pal another weapon on a team that could make a deep tournament run. — Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star, "High school football: New faces in new places for 2018 season," 28 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

Yelich and Braun went deep on consecutive pitches after Milwaukee was down to its final strike to shock St. Louis on April 3. — Jr Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "The top 15 plays by the Milwaukee Brewers this season," 30 June 2018 To say that passions run deep on this is like saying Brazilians have a passing interest in football. — The Economist, "The obstacles on Macedonia’s road to the EU," 28 June 2018 Now teams are digging deep on the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Merkley, who had 67 points in 63 games for Guelph Storm in the Ontario Hockey League this season. — Sam Carchidi, Philly.com, "Will the Flyers roll the draft dice on Ryan Merkley, a talented defenseman prospect with attitude concerns?," 20 June 2018 Smith and bassist Eric Bass (who produced the new record) went deep on the crowd-pleasing rock band’s new album, and the personal tribulations that led them to explore such an introspective approach. — Chris Payne, Billboard, "#AlternativeFacts Podcast: The Darkness That Drove Shinedown's Most Personal Album Yet (And What's Next)," 22 May 2018 The light arose from the collision between a remarkably energetic neutrino – a wraithlike subatomic particle moving close to the speed of light – and the nucleus of a hydrogen or oxygen atom deep within the ice. — Eoin O'carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, "Neutrino demonstration heralds a new way of observing the cosmos," 12 July 2018 Composed of more than 5,000 sensors embedded in a cubic kilometer of ice sitting deep beneath the Antarctic surface, IceCube picks up the flashes of blue light caused by secondary particles after a neutrino makes contact. — Amina Khan, latimes.com, "After years of searching, scientists finally trace high-energy neutrinos to a distant blazar," 12 July 2018 All wore face masks after their long ordeal inside the cave complex deep inside a mountain. — NBC News, "Thai cave rescue boys wave from hospital, begin to recover," 11 July 2018 The boys were deep below the surface with dwindling oxygen levels, sometimes as low as 15 percent. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "All 12 Thai Boys Rescued From Cave," 10 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

For one, the speaker is mostly treated as an iOS ecosystem accessory, like the AirPods, that works best only for those deep within Apple’s walled garden. — Nick Statt, The Verge, "Apple sold an estimated 600,000 HomePods in the first quarter of the year," 17 May 2018 In the 1970s, local preference shifted to the larger fish of the deeps, above all ahi (yellowfin tuna), typically anointed with shoyu (Japanese soy sauce) instead of sea salt. — Author: Ligaya Mishan, Anchorage Daily News, "Heading home to Hawaii in search of poke," 10 Jan. 2018 Virginia will have a young defense, and Louisville will bring a deep, experienced receiving group. — Jake Lourim, The Courier-Journal, "How Louisville football can (and can't) beat Virginia," 5 July 2018 Water in the cave is reportedly knee-deep, but is neck-deep in the chamber. — Nicole Darrah, Fox News, "Trapped Thai soccer team entered cave for 'initiation' ritual, rescuer says," 3 July 2018 Dead ahead the waves had parted to reveal a man neck-deep in the water. — Earl Swift, Outside Online, "The Incredible True Story of the Henrietta C.," 20 June 2018 Bennett’s friendship with S.F. runs deeps: As mayor, Sen. Dianne Feinstein saved the cable cars with Bennett celebrating alongside her. — Catherine Bigelow, San Francisco Chronicle, "Honorary San Franciscan Tony Bennett now has his own street," 11 June 2018 Mi Nuevo Nayarit This mariscos joint might not be among the city’s best, but the value of a place serving solid Mexican seafood deep into the night on the west side of town can’t be understated. — Dominic Armato, azcentral, "10 best late night Phoenix restaurants: Great pizza, burgers, Asian, comfort food," 8 June 2018 The animal was hustled into the back of a police cruiser and deposited by Czech deep into Pennypack Park. — Mike Newall, Philly.com, "The Ballad of the Game Warden and the South Philly Coyote | Mike Newall," 27 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'deep.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.