Definition

1. Adverb: To a depth that reaches the waist of a standing person.

   • Describes something, typically water or another substance, that is deep enough to reach a person's waist level.

2. Adjective: Being at a depth that reaches the waist.

   • Describes a state or condition where something is submerged or immersed up to the waist.

Usage and Examples

• Adverb:

  • The floodwaters were waist-deep in the street. (The water in the street was high enough to reach a person's waist.)
  • He waded waist-deep into the river to fish. (He walked into the river until the water level was at his waist.)

• Adjective:

  • They were stuck in waist-deep mud. (They were trapped in mud that came up to their waists.)
  • The rescuers navigated through waist-deep snow. (The rescuers moved through snow that was as high as their waists.)

Advanced Usage

• Figurative Use: Can describe being heavily involved or immersed in a situation, often a difficult one.
  • After the scandal broke, the company was waist-deep in legal troubles. (The company was heavily involved in many legal problems.)

Variants and Related Words

• Waist-high (Adjective/Adverb): Having a height that reaches the waist. Often used interchangeably with "waist-deep" for things like grass or fences, but "waist-deep" strongly implies immersion in a substance.
  • The corn was waist-high. (The corn plants were as tall as a person's waist.)

Synonyms

• Knee-deep: To a depth that reaches the knees. (Indicates a lesser depth than waist-deep).
• Chest-deep: To a depth that reaches the chest. (Indicates a greater depth than waist-deep).

Related Phrases

• Up to one's waist: A descriptive phrase with the same meaning as "waist-deep."
  • The water was up to his waist.

Adverb

1. up to the waist
   • the water rose waist-high