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.