deprive

verb

de·​prive di-ˈprīv 

deprived; depriving

transitive verb

1

: to take something away from

deprived him of his professorship

—J. M. Phalen

the risk of injury when the brain is deprived of oxygen

2

: to withhold something from

deprived a citizen of her rights

3

: to remove from office

the Archbishop … would be deprived and sent to the Tower

—Edith Sitwell

4

obsolete : remove

'tis honor to deprive dishonored life

—Shakespeare

Synonyms

• strip

Examples of deprive in a Sentence

working those long hours was depriving him of his sleep

a prince who had been deprived after those who opposed the monarchy came to power

Recent Examples on the Web

Additionally, the nearly $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid could deprive more than 10 million Americans of health insurance and regular access to doctors. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2025

This deprives patients of the possible benefit of a new treatment while elevating their risk. —Madison Plunkert, Baltimore Sun, 23 June 2025

The ayatollahs have deprived the country of a prosperous civil society, channelling resources instead into militarism and messianic fantasy. —David Remnick, New Yorker, 21 June 2025

This method helps smother developing weeds, depriving them of sunlight and the water needed to survive. —Dee Dee Kerscher, Oc Register, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English depriven, from Anglo-French depriver, from Medieval Latin deprivare, from Latin de- + privare to deprive — more at private entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing deprive

• deprive of

Rhymes for deprive

• alive
• archive
• arrive
• beehive
• connive
• contrive
• derive
• revive
• survive
• dive
• drive
• five

Kids Definition

deprive

verb

de·​prive di-ˈprīv 

deprived; depriving

1

: to take something away from

deprive a ruler of power

2

: to stop from having something

deprived of sleep by street noises

deprivation

ˌdep-rə-ˈvā-shən

noun

Medical Definition

deprive

transitive verb

de·​prive di-ˈprīv 

deprived; depriving

: to take something away from and especially something that is usually considered essential for mental or physical well-being

a child deprived of emotional support

tissue deprived of oxygen

Legal Definition

deprive

transitive verb

de·​prive

deprived; depriving

: to take away or withhold something from

no person shall…be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law

—U.S. Constitution amend. V

deprivation

ˌde-prə-ˈvā-shən, ˌdē-ˌprī- 

noun