depression
gb/dɪpɹˈɛʃən/ us/dɪpɹˈɛʃən/
B1
English
~ 4500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
state
1
long-term sadness disorder
A mental illness that makes someone feel very sad and lose interest in life for a long time.
Usage pattern:
to suffer from [depression]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'depression' (the illness) with 'being depressed' as a temporary feeling. The noun often refers to a longer-term condition.
Synonyms
melancholy (More literary; can refer to a general feeling of sadness, not always clinical.)
|
despondency (Formal; emphasizes loss of hope and low spirits rather than the medical condition.)
Antonyms
happiness (General positive emotional state, opposite to feeling sad or hopeless.)
|
joy (Strong positive emotion contrasting with depression's low mood.)
Collocations
clinical depression
|suffer from depression
|treat depression
|diagnosed with depression
|battle depression
Themes
emotions
|health
|psychology
Examples
- She was diagnosed with depression after months of feeling hopeless.
- Depression can make even small tasks feel overwhelming.
- Many people with depression benefit from therapy and medication.
- He spoke openly about his struggle with depression.
- Depression affects millions of people worldwide.
Learner examples
- She has depression and feels sad every day.
- He is getting help for his depression.
- Depression can make you tired all the time.
- My friend has depression and does not want to go out.
- Depression is a serious health problem.
Noun
B2
event
2
serious economic downturn
A time when a country's economy is very bad for a long time.
Usage pattern:
during the [depression]
Common mistake:
Some learners mix 'depression' with 'recession'; recession is shorter and less severe.
Synonyms
recession (Usually refers to a shorter or less severe economic decline.)
Antonyms
boom (A period of strong economic growth and prosperity.)
Collocations
economic depression
|the Great Depression
|fall into depression
|recover from depression
Themes
economy
|history
|business
|finance
Examples
- The Great Depression of the 1930s affected countries worldwide.
- Farmers struggled to survive during the economic depression.
- Many businesses closed during the depression.
- Unemployment rose sharply in the depression.
- Governments introduced new policies to end the depression.
Learner examples
- The Great Depression happened in the 1930s.
- Many people lost their jobs in the depression.
- The country went into a long depression.
- During the depression, food was hard to get.
- The depression ended after many years.
Noun
B1
entity
3
sunken landform or surface hollow
A low place or hole in a surface or land.
Usage pattern:
a [depression] in [something]
Synonyms
hollow (Can refer to both small and large dips; slightly more informal in some uses.)
|
dent (Usually smaller and often caused by impact, especially on objects.)
Antonyms
elevation (A raised area above the surrounding surface.)
Collocations
shallow depression
|natural depression
|form a depression
Themes
geography
|nature
|space
Examples
- Rainwater collected in a small depression in the ground.
- The desert basin is actually a large geological depression.
- A shallow depression in the road caused water to pool.
- There was a noticeable depression in the mattress where he slept.
- The crater left a deep depression in the earth.
Learner examples
- Water stayed in the small depression.
- There is a depression in the ground.
- The car seat has a depression from use.
- We saw a big depression in the sand.
- The ball rolled into a small depression.
Grammar
Dictionary form
depression
IPA
GB/dɪpɹˈɛʃən/
US/dɪpɹˈɛʃən/
Syllables & stress
de - pres - sion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pres)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: depression
- Plural: depression, depressions
Word family
Forms
depressions
noun
Related words
depressive
adjective C1
antidepressant
noun
Advanced or less common
depressant
noun
depressingly
adverb
Expressions
battle depression
1/bˈætəl dɪpɹˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
try to overcome depression
To try hard to get better from long-lasting sadness and hopelessness.
Examples
- He has been battling depression for years but continues to work.
- Many people battle depression with therapy and medication.
fall into depression
1/fˈɔl ˈɪntu dɪpɹˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
start suffering from depression
To start having strong and lasting feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
Examples
- After losing his job, he fell into depression.
- She fell into depression after her parents died.
the Great Depression
1/ðə ɡɹˈeɪt dɪpɹˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
Severe 1930s economic downturn
A long time in the 1930s when many people had no jobs and little money around the world.
Examples
- The Great Depression affected economies worldwide.
- The Great Depression left millions unemployed across America.
- Many banks failed during the Great Depression.
- Many social programs were created during the Great Depression.