B2adjective2K

Depressed

UK /["/dɪˈprest/"]/US /["/dɪˈprest/"]/

Definition

very sad and without hope

In simple words: Feeling very sad or hopeless for a long time.

Examples

  • She felt depressed after receiving the bad news about her job.
  • Many people experience depressed moods during the winter months.
  • The economy has remained depressed for several years, affecting many businesses.
  • After the breakup, he was often seen with a depressed expression on his face.
  • Trying to cheer up his depressed friend, he planned a fun outing.

Usage notes

Use 'depressed' to describe a person's mental state, typically in neutral contexts. Avoid casual or flippant usage. It’s more serious than being 'sad'.

Grammar pattern

be + depressed

Memory hint

Think of 'de-press' as someone pressing down on you, making you feel heavy and sad.

Collocations

  • be
  • feel
  • look
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • about
  • by
  • be
  • feel
  • look
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • about
  • by
  • be
  • become
  • remain
  • severely
  • very
  • relatively

Synonyms

  • sad
  • downcast
  • despondent
  • sorrowful
  • melancholy

Antonyms

  • happy
  • cheerful
  • elated

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'depressing', which describes something that causes sadness.
  • Incorrectly using 'depressed' to describe temporary feelings.
  • Using in light-hearted contexts, which can be seen as insensitive.