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
3
a
: 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
4
a
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
5
a
: 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 bullpen
8
computing
: having or using many repetitions of algorithmic processing
deep learning
a deep neural network
deeply
adverb
deepness
noun
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
1
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)
Synonyms
Adjective
Noun
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
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 Nov. 2023
Which makes fetching a bit of a paradox—a behavior with deep wild roots that has been coaxed out by a playful relationship with us.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 22 Nov. 2023
For the latter, the gold standard is called a deep inferior epigastric perforator, or DIEP flap, which transfers a person’s tissue from the abdomen (without cutting through muscle) to re-create their breasts.
—Paige Stables, Allure, 22 Nov. 2023
The emphasis on quality craftsmanship and sustainable materials reflects a deep respect for the environment and a desire for long-lasting, timeless design.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023
Don't let the vanilla in the name fool you—the candle emits all things spicy with the help of tobacco leaf, deep woods, musk, and maple, all of which are rounded out by spiced vanilla.
—Michelle Rostamian, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Nov. 2023
The top of the boots stretches to accommodate larger calves while also retracting to keep cold air and deep snow out.
—Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2023
Our writer found a deep sense of awe and appreciation – even transformation – in her connection with others.
—Samantha Laine Perfas, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Nov. 2023
Find it on Amazon Achieve Flawless Skin with This Olay Serum
Transform your skincare routine with Olay Serum, designed for deep penetration without leaving a greasy residue.
—Poppy Morgan, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2023
Kevin Roose, New York Times, 22 Nov. 2023
Helped by kindly neighbor Sumiko (Sakura Ando), the couple make a home together out of necessity, but romance is not part of the equation until deep into the proceedings.
—Richard Kuipers, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
Astronauts traveling deep into space endure mental health battles.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2023
The steam wash option digs deep into fabric to get rid of stains without damaging your clothes.
—Barbara Bellesi Zito, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2023
Overnight, Israeli fighter jets and helicopters struck Hezbollah targets deep inside Lebanon, hitting an aluminum factory on the edge of the city of Nabatiyeh, among other targets, according to a Hezbollah spokesperson and videos posted online.
—Loay Ayyoub, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023
Chargers Jared Goff’s winning touch keeps surprising 7-2 Lions rolling at expense of Chargers
Nov. 13, 2023
The Chargers went deep on their wide receiver depth chart, but wasn’t Jalen Guyton a big surprise with four catches for 41 yards and a touchdown?
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023
The beauty welcomed her first child, Wilde Wolfe Cooper, with husband Maximillion, in February of 2022 and has been happily knee deep in motherhood ever since.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 10 Nov. 2023
But all through the Seven Days’ Fight, And deep in the Wilderness grim,
And in the field-hospital tent,
And Petersburg crater, and dim
Lean brooding in Libby, there came—
Ah heaven!
—Randall Fuller, WSJ, 10 Nov. 2023
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2023
Only the fifth task is what is ordinarily thought of as the primary one: to transport people into the dark, hostile deep.
—Ben Taub, The New Yorker, 1 July 2023
On third-and-4 from Pittsburgh’s 41, Williams appeared to have thrown an incomplete deep to Tre Walker, but Butler, the former Michigan State corner, was flagged for pass interference.
—Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 25 June 2023
Aim for a pile that's 4' wide by 4' deep by 4' high.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 26 May 2023
Deep, deep in geologic time, some 600 million or 700 million years ago, the very first animals evolved on Earth.
—Viviane Callier, Scientific American, 17 May 2023
There are other plants in some of the locations; how close/deep/much to use in the root method without hurting other plants would be helpful to know.
—oregonlive, 26 Mar. 2023
Deep down, their actions may stem from deep insecurities, but their outward confidence often leads to them treating others badly without any consideration.
—Amy MacKelden, ELLE, 10 Mar. 2023
The new-baby craze isn’t finished yet, either, with Roberts recalling this year’s list of expecting parents being around half-a-dozen deep.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2023
See More
Adjective
Share [Findings] Climate change was expected to drive American lobsters to seek deeper waters, beavers to colonize new parts of Canada, and wolf spiders in the high Arctic to produce a second annual brood.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 Nov. 2023
Which makes fetching a bit of a paradox—a behavior with deep wild roots that has been coaxed out by a playful relationship with us.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 22 Nov. 2023
For the latter, the gold standard is called a deep inferior epigastric perforator, or DIEP flap, which transfers a person’s tissue from the abdomen (without cutting through muscle) to re-create their breasts.
—Paige Stables, Allure, 22 Nov. 2023
The emphasis on quality craftsmanship and sustainable materials reflects a deep respect for the environment and a desire for long-lasting, timeless design.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023
Don't let the vanilla in the name fool you—the candle emits all things spicy with the help of tobacco leaf, deep woods, musk, and maple, all of which are rounded out by spiced vanilla.
—Michelle Rostamian, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Nov. 2023
The top of the boots stretches to accommodate larger calves while also retracting to keep cold air and deep snow out.
—Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2023
Our writer found a deep sense of awe and appreciation – even transformation – in her connection with others.
—Samantha Laine Perfas, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Nov. 2023
Find it on Amazon Achieve Flawless Skin with This Olay Serum
Transform your skincare routine with Olay Serum, designed for deep penetration without leaving a greasy residue.
—Poppy Morgan, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2023
Adverb
At the company’s San Francisco office, giddy employees snacked on chicken tenders, drank boba tea and champagne, and celebrated Mr. Altman’s return deep into the night.
—Kevin Roose, New York Times, 22 Nov. 2023
Helped by kindly neighbor Sumiko (Sakura Ando), the couple make a home together out of necessity, but romance is not part of the equation until deep into the proceedings.
—Richard Kuipers, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
Astronauts traveling deep into space endure mental health battles.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2023
The steam wash option digs deep into fabric to get rid of stains without damaging your clothes.
—Barbara Bellesi Zito, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2023
Overnight, Israeli fighter jets and helicopters struck Hezbollah targets deep inside Lebanon, hitting an aluminum factory on the edge of the city of Nabatiyeh, among other targets, according to a Hezbollah spokesperson and videos posted online.
—Loay Ayyoub, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023
Chargers Jared Goff’s winning touch keeps surprising 7-2 Lions rolling at expense of Chargers
Nov. 13, 2023
The Chargers went deep on their wide receiver depth chart, but wasn’t Jalen Guyton a big surprise with four catches for 41 yards and a touchdown?
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023
The beauty welcomed her first child, Wilde Wolfe Cooper, with husband Maximillion, in February of 2022 and has been happily knee deep in motherhood ever since.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 10 Nov. 2023
But all through the Seven Days’ Fight, And deep in the Wilderness grim,
And in the field-hospital tent,
And Petersburg crater, and dim
Lean brooding in Libby, there came—
Ah heaven!
—Randall Fuller, WSJ, 10 Nov. 2023
Noun
For now, President Joe Biden faces a couple of Democratic challengers, but is expected to secure his party's nomination, while former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have dominated the early Republican race in a field that is about a dozen deep.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2023
Only the fifth task is what is ordinarily thought of as the primary one: to transport people into the dark, hostile deep.
—Ben Taub, The New Yorker, 1 July 2023
On third-and-4 from Pittsburgh’s 41, Williams appeared to have thrown an incomplete deep to Tre Walker, but Butler, the former Michigan State corner, was flagged for pass interference.
—Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 25 June 2023
Aim for a pile that's 4' wide by 4' deep by 4' high.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 26 May 2023
Deep, deep in geologic time, some 600 million or 700 million years ago, the very first animals evolved on Earth.
—Viviane Callier, Scientific American, 17 May 2023
There are other plants in some of the locations; how close/deep/much to use in the root method without hurting other plants would be helpful to know.
—oregonlive, 26 Mar. 2023
Deep down, their actions may stem from deep insecurities, but their outward confidence often leads to them treating others badly without any consideration.
—Amy MacKelden, ELLE, 10 Mar. 2023
The new-baby craze isn’t finished yet, either, with Roberts recalling this year’s list of expecting parents being around half-a-dozen deep.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deep.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective, Adverb, and Noun
Middle English dep, from Old English dēop; akin to Old High German tiof deep, Old English dyppan to dip — more at dip
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adverb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b(2)
Time Traveler
The first known use of deep was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing deep
Dictionary Entries Near deep
Cite this Entry
“Deep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deep. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
deep
1 of 3 adjective1
a
: extending far downward
a deep well
b
: having a great distance between the top and bottom surfaces : not shallow
deep water
c
: extending well inward from an outer or front surface
a deep gash
d
: extending far outward from a center
deep space
e
: occurring or located near the outer limits
deep right field
2
: having a specified extension downward or backward
a shelf 40 centimeters deep
3
a
: difficult to understand
a deep book
b
: mysterious, obscure
a deep dark secret
c
: profound sense 1
a deep thinker
d
: completely absorbed
deep in thought
e
: being to an extreme degree : heavy
deep sleep
4
a
: dark and rich in color
a deep red
b
: having a low musical pitch or range
a deep voice
5
a
: coming from or located well within
a deep sigh
a house deep in the forest
b
: covered, enclosed, or filled often to a specified degree
knee-deep in water
a road deep with snow
deeply
adverb
deep
3 of 3 noun1
a
: an extremely deep place or part (as of the ocean)
b
2
: the middle or most intense part
the deep of night
Medical Definition
deep
adjective1
a
: extending well inward from an outer surface
a deep gash
b(1)
: not located superficially within the body or one of its parts
deep pressure receptors in muscles
(2)
: resulting from or involving stimulation of deep structures
deep pain
deep reflexes
2
: being below the level of the conscious
deep neuroses
deeply
adverb
More from Merriam-Webster on deep
Nglish: Translation of deep for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of deep for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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