1
a(1)
: a deep place in a body of water
fish living at great depths
(2)
: a part that is far from the outside or surface
the depths of the woods
(3)
b(1)
: a profound or intense state (as of thought or feeling)
the depths of sorrow
also
: a reprehensibly low condition
hadn't realized that standards had fallen to such depths
(2)
: the middle of a time (such as a season)
the depths of winter
(3)
: the worst part
the depths of the depression
2
mathematics
a
: the perpendicular (see perpendicular entry 1 sense 1b) measurement downward from a surface
the depth of a swimming pool
b
: the direct linear measurement from front to back
the depth of a bookshelf
3
: the quality of being deep
the depth of the pass
4
: the degree of intensity
depth of a color
also
: the quality of being profound (as in insight) or full (as of knowledge)
the depth of her experience
5
: the quality or state of being complete or thorough
—used in the phrase in depth
a study will be made in depth
a subject being discussed in depth [=thoroughly, comprehensively]
compare in-depth
6
US, sports
: the quality of having many good players
a team that lacks depth in the outfield
Examples of depth in a Sentence
These fish typically live at depths of 500 feet or more.
Students will test the temperature of the water at different depths.
The boat sank to a depth of several hundred feet.
measuring the depth of the water
the depth of a hole
The pool has a depth of 12 feet.
I began working at the factory during the depth of the Depression.
Recent Examples on the Web
The episodes showcase the depths of the Pacific from Peru to Ecuador, Polynesia,
Australia and the Arctic.
—
Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 7 Apr. 2024
Angels ‘Forgotten’ Angels hoping to defy expectations in their post-Ohtani world
March 25, 2024
The Angels do not appear to have the depth to contend this season.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
The frames were so broad, and the images of mines, walls, oil fields, quarries, and factories had such vivid depth, that looking at them seemed akin to gazing through windows at distant lands.
—Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
The quake had a depth of about 1 kilometer, according to USGS.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2024
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of excavating your sandals from the depths of your closet at the first signs of spring — well, except for buying a new pair, that is.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024
Reading across so many authors and genres teaches you so many different ways to describe things, to bring depth to characters, and to move plots along.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
The Best Lures for Spring Crappie Presentation is critical, as pre-spawn crappie are often at specific depths and keyed into a particular forage.
—Don Wirth, Field & Stream, 4 Apr. 2024
This luggage is made with a zippered expansion to increase its depth by two inches.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 7 Apr. 2024
Angels ‘Forgotten’ Angels hoping to defy expectations in their post-Ohtani world
March 25, 2024
The Angels do not appear to have the depth to contend this season.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
The frames were so broad, and the images of mines, walls, oil fields, quarries, and factories had such vivid depth, that looking at them seemed akin to gazing through windows at distant lands.
—Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
The quake had a depth of about 1 kilometer, according to USGS.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2024
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of excavating your sandals from the depths of your closet at the first signs of spring — well, except for buying a new pair, that is.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024
Reading across so many authors and genres teaches you so many different ways to describe things, to bring depth to characters, and to move plots along.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
The Best Lures for Spring Crappie Presentation is critical, as pre-spawn crappie are often at specific depths and keyed into a particular forage.
—Don Wirth, Field & Stream, 4 Apr. 2024
This luggage is made with a zippered expansion to increase its depth by two inches.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'depth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near depth
Cite this Entry
“Depth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depth. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
depth
noun1
a
: something that is deep : a deep place or part (as of a body of water)
b
: a part that is far from the outside or surface
the depths of the woods
c
: abyss
2
a
: the middle of a time
the depth of winter
b
: an extreme state (as of despair)
3
: distance from top to bottom or from front to back
4
: the quality of being deep
depth of understanding
5
: degree of intensity
the depth of a color
Medical Definition
depth
noun1
: the distance between upper and lower or between dorsal and ventral points of a body
2
: the quality of a state of consciousness, a bodily state, or a physiological function of being intense or complete
the depth of anesthesia
the depth of respiration
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