depressed
gb/dɪpɹˈɛst/ us/dɪpɹˈɛst/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
state
1
sad and without hope
feeling very sad for a long time
Usage pattern:
feel depressed (about/over [something])
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse depressed (how someone feels) with depressing (something that makes you feel sad).
Synonyms
sad (more general and often less intense)
|
miserable (emphasizes suffering or discomfort)
|
down (more informal and usually less severe)
Antonyms
happy (feeling pleasure or contentment)
|
cheerful (showing positive mood and energy)
|
upbeat (positive and optimistic in attitude)
Collocations
feel depressed
|get depressed
|seem depressed
|look depressed
|sound depressed
|a bit depressed
|deeply depressed
|depressed about it
|depressed over the news
|leave someone depressed
Themes
emotions
|health
|daily_life
Examples
- She felt depressed after losing her job and stopped seeing friends.
- He’s been really depressed lately and doesn’t want to do anything.
- The long winter can make some people feel depressed.
Learner examples
- I feel depressed today.
- She is depressed about her exam results.
adjective
formal
C1
state
2
having clinical depression
having an illness called depression
Usage pattern:
be (diagnosed as) depressed
Common mistake:
In medical contexts, depressed can be used as a condition; avoid using it casually if you mean simply sad.
Synonyms
depressed (the standard term; often implies a diagnosis in context)
|
mentally unwell (broader and less specific)
Antonyms
well (in good health (including mental health))
|
stable (mentally balanced and not in crisis)
Collocations
clinically depressed
|diagnosed as depressed
|severely depressed
|chronically depressed
|treated for depression
|depressed patients
|symptoms of being depressed
Themes
health
|mental_health
|medicine
Examples
- After the assessment, she was diagnosed as depressed and began treatment.
- Some people who are depressed have trouble sleeping and eating.
- He didn’t realize he was depressed until he talked to a doctor.
Learner examples
- He is being treated because he is depressed.
adjective
B2
property
3
pushed down below the surface
pushed down; lower than around it
Usage pattern:
a depressed [surface/area/section]
Synonyms
sunken (often suggests naturally or noticeably lower)
|
indented (emphasizes a small inward dent)
|
hollowed (suggests a larger cavity-like shape)
Antonyms
raised (higher than the surrounding surface)
|
protruding (sticking out from a surface)
Collocations
depressed surface
|depressed center
|depressed area
|depressed panel
|depressed region
|slightly depressed
|a depressed line
Themes
objects
|materials
|daily_life
Examples
- The table had a depressed area where something heavy had been left.
- A depressed circle marked the spot where the lid used to sit.
- The metal was slightly depressed near the corner.
Learner examples
- The button sits in a depressed area.
adjective
C1
entity
4
land that is lower
a place that is lower than the land around it
Usage pattern:
a depressed [area/region/valley]
Synonyms
low-lying (emphasizes being close to sea level or lower than nearby land)
|
sunken (more descriptive; can suggest formed by sinking)
Antonyms
elevated (higher than the surrounding land)
|
upland (areas of high ground)
Collocations
depressed area
|depressed region
|depressed terrain
|depressed valley
|depressed basin
|a depressed section of land
Themes
nature
|geography
Examples
- Fog often collects in depressed areas during the early morning.
- The campsite was in a depressed part of the field and flooded after the storm.
- Cold air can settle in depressed valleys overnight.
Learner examples
- Water gathers in depressed areas after rain.
adjective
business
C1
state
5
economically weak or inactive
not doing well economically
Usage pattern:
a depressed [economy/market/industry/region]
Synonyms
weak (general term for poor performance)
|
sluggish (emphasizes slow movement or growth)
|
downturn-hit (highlights being affected by a downturn)
Antonyms
booming (growing fast with strong activity)
|
strong (performing well economically)
Collocations
depressed economy
|depressed market
|depressed demand
|depressed industry
|a depressed region
|remain depressed
|economically depressed
Themes
business
|economy
|news
Examples
- The housing market remained depressed for several years.
- Tourism collapsed and the local economy became depressed.
- In a depressed industry, companies often cut hiring.
Learner examples
- The market is depressed this year.
adjective
business
C1
property
6
reduced from a normal level
kept low; lower than normal
Usage pattern:
depressed [prices/wages/sales/profits]
Synonyms
low (more general and less formal)
|
suppressed (suggests being held down by a force or policy)
|
reduced (emphasizes a change downward)
Antonyms
high (above the usual level)
|
elevated (higher than normal, often formally)
|
rising (increasing over time)
Collocations
depressed prices
|depressed wages
|depressed sales
|depressed profits
|depressed valuations
|keep prices depressed
|remain depressed
Themes
business
|numbers
|news
Examples
- Oversupply kept oil prices depressed for months.
- Depressed sales forced the company to close several stores.
- Low demand left profits depressed across the sector.
Learner examples
- Depressed prices hurt farmers.
adjective
B2
property
7
subdued or low in tone
speaking or acting without energy
Usage pattern:
a depressed [voice/tone/manner]
Synonyms
flat (lacking emotion or variation in tone)
|
subdued (quiet and controlled, not lively)
|
listless (showing a lack of energy or enthusiasm)
Antonyms
lively (full of energy and interest)
|
animated (expressive and energetic in speech or behavior)
Collocations
depressed voice
|depressed tone
|depressed manner
|sound depressed
|a depressed-sounding reply
Themes
communication
|emotions
|daily_life
Examples
- Her voice sounded depressed on the phone.
- He gave a depressed reply and stared at the floor.
- The team’s mood was depressed after the loss.
Learner examples
- He spoke in a depressed tone.
adjective
technical
B2
state
8
pressed down (a control)
pushed down (like a button)
Usage pattern:
with [a button/key/pedal] depressed
Synonyms
pressed (common everyday alternative)
|
held down (emphasizes continuing pressure)
Antonyms
released (no longer pressed down)
|
raised (returned to the up position)
Collocations
button depressed
|key depressed
|pedal depressed
|keep the button depressed
|with the clutch depressed
|fully depressed
|partially depressed
Themes
technology
|daily_life
|machines
Examples
- Keep the brake pedal depressed while the car is stopped.
- With the key depressed, the light will stay on.
- The switch only works when the button is fully depressed.
Learner examples
- Keep the button depressed for three seconds.
Grammar
Dictionary form
depressed
IPA
GB/dɪpɹˈɛst/
US/dɪpɹˈɛst/
Syllables & stress
de - pressed (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pressed)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: depressed
Word family
Core family
Related words
Advanced or less common
depressant
noun
Expressions
be depressed about something
1/bˈi dɪpɹˈɛst əbˈaʊt sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
sad because of something
to feel very sad about something
Examples
- She’s depressed about her exam score.
- He was depressed about the lack of job offers.
- They felt depressed about leaving their hometown.
be depressed by something
1/bˈi dɪpɹˈɛst bˈaɪ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
made sad by something
to feel sad because of something you saw or heard
Examples
- Many people were depressed by the news.
- She was depressed by how little had changed.
- He felt depressed by the gloomy weather and dark mornings.
feel depressed
1/fˈil dɪpɹˈɛst/
fixed phrase
experience strong sadness
to feel very sad
Examples
- I feel depressed when I stay indoors for too long.
- She felt depressed about the breakup for weeks.
- If you feel depressed most days, talk to someone you trust.
get depressed
1/ɡˈɛt dɪpɹˈɛst/
fixed phrase
become very sad
to start to feel very sad
Examples
- He gets depressed when he compares himself to others online.
- Don’t get depressed if progress is slow at first.
- She got depressed after moving away from her friends.
keep something depressed
1/kˈip sˈʌmθɪŋ dɪpɹˈɛst/
fixed phrase
technical
hold a control down
to keep pressing something down
Examples
- Keep the button depressed to reset the device.
- He kept the brake depressed at the red light.
- Keep the key depressed until the indicator flashes.
with the pedal depressed
1/wˈɪθ ðə pˈɛdəl dɪpɹˈɛst/
fixed phrase
technical
while holding a pedal down
while you are pressing a pedal down
Examples
- Start the engine with the clutch depressed.
- With the brake pedal depressed, the car won’t roll forward.
- Keep the pedal depressed until the machine stops completely.