Definition

1. Verb:
   • To use up or reduce the supply or quantity of something, especially resources, energy, or strength: To decrease something substantially by consuming, spending, or exhausting it.
   • To empty something out or lessen the fullness of something: To drain or diminish the contents or vitality of something.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • Overfishing has depleted the population of cod in the North Atlantic.
  • The long drought depleted the region's water reserves.
  • Traveling for work constantly can deplete your energy.

Advanced Usage

• "to deplete oneself of something": To use up one's own supply of a resource, often a non-material one.
  • The artist depleted himself of new ideas after years of intense work.
• In Environmental/Economic Contexts: Often used to describe the unsustainable consumption of natural resources or financial reserves.
  • Policies were enacted to prevent companies from depleting the mineral resources.
  • The emergency fund was depleted during the crisis.

Variants and Related Words

• Depletion (noun): The act or process of depleting, or the state of being depleted.
  • The depletion of the ozone layer is a major environmental concern.
• Depletable (adjective): Capable of being used up or depleted.
  • Fossil fuels are depletable resources.

Synonyms

• Exhaust: To use up completely.
• Drain: To cause something to flow out, leaving it empty or dry.
• Consume: To use up (a resource).
• Use up: To finish a supply of something.

Antonyms

• Replenish: To fill or build up again.
• Conserve: To protect something, especially an environmental resource, from harm or depletion.
• Accumulate: To gather or build up a supply of something.

Related Phrases

• "to deplete one's savings": To spend most or all of one's saved money.
  • Unexpected medical bills depleted their savings.
• "resource depletion": The consumption of a resource faster than it can be replenished.
  • Resource depletion is a key challenge for sustainable development.

Verb

1. use up (resources or materials)
   • this car consumes a lot of gas
   • We exhausted our savings
   • They run through 20 bottles of wine a week