depleted; depleting; depletes
1
: to empty of a principal substance
The lake was depleted of water.
depleting the country of its natural resources
2
: to lessen markedly in quantity, content, power, or value
deplete our life savings
their depleted resources
Did you know?
The de- prefix often means "do the opposite of", so deplete means the opposite of "fill". Thus, for example, a kitchen's food supplies can be rapidly depleted by hungry teenagers. But deplete often suggests something more serious. Desertions can deplete an army; layoffs can deplete an office staff; and too much time in bed can rapidly deplete your muscular strength.
Examples of deplete in a Sentence
Activities such as logging and mining deplete our natural resources.
We completely depleted our life savings when we bought our new house.
Recent Examples on the Web
Below-average rainfall since September has caused the 11 reservoirs in the Catawba-Wateree Basin — and the streams that feed into them — to deplete below normal levels, the local Drought Management Advisory Group said in a news release Thursday.
—
Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 17 Apr. 2026
The phone continued to transmit its position until the battery was depleted.
—Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 17 Apr. 2026
But the organization says retailers should be able to keep the 10-cent paper bag fee instead of splitting it with the state, and there should be adequate time to let stores deplete their plastic bag inventory and educate the public about a change.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Instead, we’re simply asked to follow Nanning’s fairytale-like quest, searching for butter, honey, and white bread to soothe Hille on an island where such rations have been all but depleted by war.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deplete
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Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 17 Apr. 2026
The phone continued to transmit its position until the battery was depleted.
—Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 17 Apr. 2026
But the organization says retailers should be able to keep the 10-cent paper bag fee instead of splitting it with the state, and there should be adequate time to let stores deplete their plastic bag inventory and educate the public about a change.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Instead, we’re simply asked to follow Nanning’s fairytale-like quest, searching for butter, honey, and white bread to soothe Hille on an island where such rations have been all but depleted by war.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deplete
Cite this Entry
“Deplete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deplete. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deplete
verb
de·plete
di-ˈplēt 
depleted; depleting
: to reduce in amount by using up : exhaust especially of strength or resources
soil depleted of minerals
a depleted treasury
Medical Definition
deplete
transitive verb
de·plete
di-ˈplēt
depleted; depleting
: to empty (as the blood vessels) of a principal substance
a body depleted by excessive blood loss
tissues depleted of vitamins
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