depression

noun

de·pres·sion | \ di-ˈpre-shən

, dē-\

Definition of depression

1 : an act of depressing or a state of being depressed: such as

a(1) : a state of feeling sad : dejection anger, anxiety, and depression

(2) : a mood disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies bouts of depression suffering from clinical depression

b(1) : a reduction in activity, amount, quality, or force a depression in trade

(2) biology : a lowering of physical or mental vitality or of functional activity

c : a pressing down : lowering a depression of the tab key

2 economics : a period of low general economic activity marked especially by rising levels of unemployment heading towards a depression periods of economic depression

3 : a place or part that is lower than the surrounding area : a depressed place or part : hollow The chicken pox left several depressions in her skin.

4 meteorology : low entry 4 sense 1b a tropical depression

5a astronomy : the angular distance of a celestial object below the horizon

b mathematics : the size of an angle of depression

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about depression

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms & Antonyms for depression

Synonyms

recession, slump

Antonyms

boom

Examples of depression in a Sentence

She has been undergoing treatment for severe depression. Many people suffer from clinical depression for years before being diagnosed. After several years of an economic boom, it looks as though we may be heading toward a depression. The photographs show depressions in the moon's surface.

Recent Examples on the Web

It's helped enormously coping with the pain, and with controlling the anxiety and depression that often accompanies it. — Vogue, "Sea of Shoes’ Jane Aldridge on Her Battle With Endometriosis—And How She’s Coping With Chronic Pain," 1 Apr. 2019 Postpartum depression is a type of mood disorder that affects some women after childbirth, causing sadness and loss of interest in activities. — Peter Loftus, WSJ, "Sage Therapeutics’ Drug for Postpartum Depression Gets FDA Nod," 19 Mar. 2019 The second, published in May of this year in JAMA Psychiatry, found that lifting weights can help ease and even prevent depression. — Brad Stulberg, Outside Online, "Lifting Weights Helps Ease Anxiety and Depression," 5 July 2018 Two years earlier, two panels of FDA advisers had considered whether to approve Seroquel for new conditions—schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in children, and depression in adults who are taking other medicines. — Charles Piller, Science | AAAS, "Hidden conflicts? Pharma payments to FDA advisers after drug approvals spark ethical concerns," 5 July 2018 This all came to a head last month when it was revealed that Justin was seeking treatment for depression. — Carolyn Twersky, Seventeen, "Justin Bieber Comes Clean In an Intense Instagram Post and Says He's “Been Struggling A Lot”," 11 Mar. 2019 Technically, your doctor should already be screening you for perinatal depression. — Korin Miller, SELF, "How New Recommendations on Perinatal Depression Might Change Your Next Prenatal Appointment," 14 Feb. 2019 If sleeping closely and nursing are causing more sleep-deprivation and stress for a mother, this is a risk for depression and anxiety that can then interfere with the bonding process. — Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, "What Is Attachment Parenting? Parents and Children Share a Close Bond," 30 Nov. 2018 Bowser’s mother, Sharon Struthers, was committed to the hospital for depression in 2014 and stayed through 2015. — Washington Post, "AP Exclusive: Washington psychiatric hospital called ‘hell’," 6 July 2018

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about depression

Dictionary Entries near depression

Statistics for depression

Last Updated

17 Apr 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for depression

The first known use of depression was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for depression

depression

noun

Financial Definition of depression

What It Is

A depression is a sustained downturn in economic activity characterized by high unemployment, decreased output and reduced levels of trade.

How It Works

Low levels of consumer confidence during times of depression generally result in a severe drop in consumer demand and spending. This leads companies to cut costs by reducing their workforces, resulting in high unemployment and even lower consumer confidence and spending. Prices and wages spiral downward, causing more turmoil.

The Great Depression of the 1930s is the best example of the far-reaching economic and social impact a depression can have.

Why It Matters

A depression can have devastating social and economic effects. It is generally accepted that dramatic government intervention is required in order to move an economy from depression to recovery.

Source: Investing Answers

depression

noun

English Language Learners Definition of depression

: a state of feeling sad

: a serious medical condition in which a person feels very sad, hopeless, and unimportant and often is unable to live in a normal way

: a period of time in which there is little economic activity and many people do not have jobs

See the full definition for depression in the English Language Learners Dictionary

depression

noun

de·pres·sion | \ di-ˈpre-shən

Kids Definition of depression

1 : an act of pressing down depression of the brake pedal

2 : a hollow place or part My foot made a depression in the sand.

3 : a feeling of sadness Your support eased my depression.

4 : a period of low activity in business with much unemployment

Keep scrolling for more

depression

noun

de·pres·sion | \ di-ˈpresh-ən

Medical Definition of depression

1 : a displacement downward or inward depression of the jaw

2 : an act of depressing or a state of being depressed: as

a(1) : a state of feeling sad

(2) : a mood disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty with thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal thoughts or an attempt to commit suicide

b : a reduction in functional activity, amount, quality, or force depression of autonomic function depression of red blood cells