depress
/di'pres/
Definition
- Verb:
- To make someone feel very sad and without hope: To cause a state of low spirits or dejection.
- To reduce the activity, strength, or value of something: To cause something to become less active, forceful, or economically valuable.
- To press something down physically: To push or hold something in a downward position.
Examples of Usage
- Verb:
- The constant bad news began to depress him. (It made him feel very sad.)
- High interest rates can depress consumer spending. (They reduce the level of spending.)
- Please depress the lever to start the machine. (Push the lever down.)
Advanced Usage
- "to depress a key/button": To push a key or button down.
- Depress the brake pedal slowly.
- In economic contexts: Often used to describe a negative impact on markets, prices, or economic activity.
- The new regulations could depress innovation in the sector.
Variants and Related Words
- Depressed (adj.): Feeling very sad and without hope; also describing an area with low economic activity.
- She felt depressed after hearing the news.
- a depressed industrial region.
- Depressing (adj.): Causing sadness or gloom.
- The weather was so depressing.
- Depression (n.): A state of severe despondency and dejection; also a long period of economic decline.
- He suffered from clinical depression.
- the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Synonyms
- Discourage: To cause someone to lose confidence or enthusiasm.
- Lower: To reduce in amount, value, or quality.
- Weaken: To make less strong or powerful.
- Push down: To press something downwards.
Phrasal Verbs
(This word is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meanings are typically expressed directly.)
Related Idioms
- To depress the market: To cause a decline in market prices or activity.
- The oversupply of goods depressed the market.
Verb
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lessen the activity or force of
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The rising inflation depressed the economy
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press down
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Depress the space key
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cause to drop or sink
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The lack of rain had depressed the water level in the reservoir
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lower (prices or markets)
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The glut of oil depressed gas prices
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lower someone's spirits; make downhearted
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These news depressed her
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The bad state of her child's health demoralizes her
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