Depressed
/dɪˈprest/
Definitions
3 meaningsAffected by or suffering from depression; feeling or showing sadness or hopelessness.
/dɪˈprest/
Feeling or showing sadness; dejected
She was deeply depressed after losing her job.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're feeling like your favorite toy just broke, or like your best friend is mad at you. When you feel that kind of sadness, you're depressed. It’s like your happy meter has gone down.
👶 For kids: Feeling very, very sad and not happy.
More Examples
He became depressed and withdrawn.
The patient showed depressed moods and behaviors.
How It's Used
"She felt depressed after the loss of her pet."
"He was depressed about failing the exam."
Sunk or lowered.
/dɪˈprest/
Of a place: Sunken or lower than surrounding area
The area near the river was a depressed basin.
💡 Simply: Imagine a cookie that's been pressed flat, or the low part of a landscape. When something is depressed, it’s at a lower level.
👶 For kids: When something is lower than the things around it.
More Examples
The sculptor created a depressed relief on the wall.
The road dipped down into a depressed section.
How It's Used
"The depressed region of the valley was prone to flooding."
"The depressed area of the building was used for the basement."
To cause someone to feel sad or discouraged; to lower the spirits of someone.
/dɪˈprest/
To cause to feel or become sad.
The constant criticism depressed her.
💡 Simply: To make someone feel sad or down, like when you hear bad news.
👶 For kids: To make someone feel very, very sad.
More Examples
His inability to find a job depressed him.
The economic downturn deeply depressed the market.
How It's Used
"The news of the layoffs depressed the employees."
"The gloomy weather depressed him."
Idioms & expressions
depressed mood
A feeling of sadness and hopelessness.
"She was diagnosed with a depressed mood."
feel depressed
To experience sadness and a lack of hope.
"He started to feel depressed after his business failed."
From Latin *depressus*, past participle of *deprimere* ('to press down, to lower'), from *de-* ('down') + *premere* ('to press'). Initially used in the 17th century in the context of physical lowering or pressing down, it later evolved to describe a state of mental and emotional lowering.
The word 'depressed' first appeared in the late 17th century, initially referring to a physical state of being pressed down or lowered. Its usage to describe emotional states emerged later, gaining prominence in the 19th century.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'pressed down' spirit. The feeling of being burdened by sadness.