depress
gb/dɪpɹˈɛs/ us/dɪpɹˈɛs/
B2
English
~ 7200
lehangol, csökkent, lenyom, visszafog, gátol, gyengít
VERB
B2
1
lehangol
B1
Usage pattern:
to depress [someone]
The constant bad news on television really depresses me.
A tévében hallható folytonos rossz hírek nagyon lehangolnak.
Failing the exam depressed him for weeks.
Az, hogy megbukott a vizsgán, hetekre lehangolta.
It depresses her to think about how much time she has wasted.
The long, dark winters can depress people who are used to more sunshine.
Learner examples
Cold, rainy weather depresses me.
A hideg, esős idő lehangol.
The movie was so sad that it depressed everyone.
A film olyan szomorú volt, hogy mindenkit lehangolt.
His parents’ divorce depressed him a lot.
It depresses her when friends cancel their plans.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"The news makes me depress"* instead of *"The news depresses me"* or *"The news makes me depressed"*. Use **"depress"** as a verb with an object (*"depresses me"*), or use **"depressed"** as an adjective (*"I am depressed"*).
Meaning
make someone deeply sad
Collocations
really depresses me
|deeply depress
|depress someone
|depress the mood
|depress public morale
Synonyms
sadden (More neutral and slightly softer; does not always suggest long-lasting or very deep sadness.)
|
demoralize (Focuses on losing confidence and hope rather than just feeling sad.)
Antonyms
cheer up (Means to make someone feel happier or more positive, the opposite emotional effect.)
|
encourage (Gives someone hope or confidence instead of taking it away.)
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|daily_life
|health
Definition
To make someone feel very sad and without hope.
To make someone feel very sad, discouraged, or without hope.
C1
2
Usage pattern:
to depress [prices/levels/demand]
Higher interest rates tend to depress consumer spending.
A magasabb kamatlábak általában visszafogják a fogyasztói kiadásokat.
The flood of cheap imports has depressed local wages.
Az olcsó importáruk áradata lenyomta a helyi béreket.
Weak global demand continues to depress oil prices.
Uncertainty about the election is depressing investment in the region.
Learner examples
Bad news can depress stock prices.
A rossz hírek lenyomhatják a részvényárfolyamokat.
The new tax may depress sales next year.
Az új adó jövőre visszafoghatja az eladásokat.
Cold weather often depresses electricity demand for air conditioning.
A strong dollar can depress exports.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with emotional sadness and write sentences like *"High prices depress the people"* when they mean *"High prices depress demand"*. Use this meaning mainly with numbers, prices, markets, or activity, not with how people feel.
Meaning
lower value, amount, or activity
Collocations
depress demand
|depress prices
|depress wages
|depress the market
|depress growth
|depress sales
Synonyms
reduce (Very general; does not carry the slightly negative or economic tone that "depress" often has.)
|
weaken (Focuses more on strength or power, while "depress" often refers to numbers, prices, or activity.)
Antonyms
boost (Means to increase something, often actively and positively, the opposite of lowering it.)
|
stimulate (Suggests causing growth or activity instead of making it fall.)
Themes
business
|economics
|science
|finance
Definition
To make a number, price, or level go down.
To make the level, value, amount, or activity of something lower than it was before, especially in economics or statistics.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
3
lenyom
A2
Usage pattern:
to depress [a button/pedal/key]
To start the machine, depress the green button for three seconds.
A gép elindításához tartsa lenyomva a zöld gombot három másodpercig.
She carefully depressed the piano key to produce a very soft sound.
Finoman lenyomta a zongorabillentyűt, hogy nagyon halk hangot szólaltasson meg.
Depress the clutch fully before shifting into first gear.
The device activates when you depress this small silver lever.
Learner examples
Depress the button to open the door.
Nyomja le a gombot az ajtó kinyitásához.
He depressed the brake pedal to stop the car.
Lenyomta a fékpedált, hogy megállítsa az autót.
Please depress this key to turn on the light.
You must depress the clutch before you change gears.
Common mistake:
Learners often do not recognize this technical use and may think it means "make something sad". In manuals or instructions, **"depress"** almost always means **"press down"** physically.
Meaning
press a button or part down
Collocations
depress the button
|depress the clutch
|depress the key
|depress the brake pedal
|depress the trigger
Synonyms
press (More common and general; "depress" often appears in instructions or technical writing.)
|
push down (More informal and descriptive; not as concise as "depress" in manuals.)
Antonyms
release (Describes letting go so that the button or pedal comes back up, the opposite physical action.)
Themes
technology
|transport
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To push a button, key, or pedal down.
To press something downwards, such as a button, key, pedal, or lever, usually to operate a device or mechanism.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
to depress [a system/function]
These drugs can dangerously depress the central nervous system.
Ezek a gyógyszerek veszélyesen gátolhatják a központi idegrendszer működését.
Long-term use of steroids may depress the immune system.
A szteroidok tartós használata gyengítheti az immunrendszert.
The anesthetic depresses respiratory function, so patients must be monitored closely.
Beta-blockers are used to depress heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Learner examples
Some medicines depress the nervous system.
Egyes gyógyszerek gátolják az idegrendszer működését.
The drug can depress your breathing if you take too much.
Ha túl sokat veszel be belőle, a gyógyszer lelassíthatja a légzésedet.
This treatment may depress the immune system for several months.
Alcohol can depress brain activity at high doses.
Common mistake:
Learners may misunderstand this sense and think it is about emotions. In medical texts, **"depress"** usually refers to **slowing or weakening** a body function, not making a person feel sad.
Meaning
slow or weaken body functions
Collocations
depress the central nervous system
|depress the immune system
|depress heart rate
|depress breathing
|depress respiratory function
Synonyms
suppress (Often stronger and can mean completely stopping a response, while "depress" usually means making it weaker or slower.)
|
inhibit (A broader scientific term for slowing or limiting a reaction or activity.)
Antonyms
stimulate (Means to increase or speed up activity, the opposite of reducing it.)
Themes
medicine
|biology
|science
|health
Definition
To make a body system or organ work more slowly or less strongly.
In medicine or biology, to reduce the activity, strength, or responsiveness of a body system, organ, or function.
Grammar
Dictionary form
depress
IPA
GB/dɪpɹˈɛs/
US/dɪpɹˈɛs/
Syllables & stress
de - press (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (press)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: depress
- 3rd Person Singular: depresses
- Present Participle: depressing
- Past: depressed
Word family
Expressions
depress demand
1/dɪpɹˈɛs dɪmˈænd/
fixed phrase
technical
lower market demand
To make people want to buy less of a product or service.
Examples
- Rising interest rates are likely to depress demand for new homes.
- Higher fuel prices can depress demand for air travel.
depress economic growth
1/dɪpɹˈɛs ˌɛkənˈɑmɪk ɡɹˈoʊθ/
fixed phrase
technical
slow economic growth
To make the economy grow more slowly.
Examples
- Rising energy costs are expected to depress economic growth next year.
- Political instability has depressed economic growth in the region.
depress prices
1/dɪpɹˈɛs pɹˈaɪsɪz/
fixed phrase
technical
push prices downward
To make prices go down in a market.
Examples
- An oversupply of goods has depressed prices this year.
- The sharp drop in demand continues to depress prices across the industry.
depress the brake pedal
1/dɪpɹˈɛs ðə bɹˈeɪk pˈɛdəl/
fixed phrase
technical
press the brake pedal down
To push the brake pedal down to slow or stop a vehicle.
Examples
- Firmly depress the brake pedal if you see an obstacle ahead.
- He quickly depressed the brake pedal when the light turned red.
depress the button
1/dɪpɹˈɛs ðə bˈʌtən/
fixed phrase
technical
press a button down
To push a button down to make a machine or device work.
Examples
- Depress the button to start the washing cycle.
- If the alarm sounds, depress the red button immediately.
depress the clutch
1/dɪpɹˈɛs ðə klˈʌt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
technical
press the clutch pedal down
To push the clutch pedal down when driving a manual car.
Examples
- Depress the clutch before you start the engine.
- You should depress the clutch fully when changing gear.
depress the key
1/dɪpɹˈɛs ðə kˈi/
fixed phrase
technical
press a key down
To push a key down on a piano, keyboard, or similar device.
Examples
- Gently depress the key to produce a softer sound.
- To enter the command, depress the F5 key.
I don't want to depress you, but
1/ˈaɪ dˈoʊnt wˈɔnt tə dɪpɹˈɛs jˈu | bˈʌt/
fixed phrase
informal
soften the introduction of bad news
A way to start a sentence when you are going to say something that might make someone feel sad or negative.
Examples
- I don't want to depress you, but the weather forecast says it will rain all week.
- I don't want to depress you, but the test next month is going to be very difficult.