deep

When something is deep, it’s far below the surface. This word is an adjective used to describe people and things such as water, snow, soil, holes, empty space, and a person’s thoughts. 

  • The snow is six inches deep outside. 
  • When you jump into a pool or a lake, make sure the water is deep enough so that you don’t hurt yourself. 
  • Explorers can go into a deep cave far below the surface of the earth. 
  • Deep holes are dug for foundations of buildings. 
  • Our teacher is a very deep thinker. 
danger deep water signage

The water and the mud here are deep. 

a. deep = a physical distance downward

The general direction of deep is down. Something goes far down into a substance. It can go into water, the soil, a type of material, or a person. As an adjective, “deep” also means low or severe. The opposite of “deep” is “shallow.” 

  • The water here is very deep. 
  • The construction workers dug a deep hole for the foundation. 
  • He has a deep cut on his arm from a knife. 
  • The snow is about six inches deep. 
  • That man has a deep voice. (The sound of his voice is low.) 

a. deep = a physical distance downward

a very large group of objects in the sky
  • A powerful telescope can look into the deep areas of the universe. 
 
brown rock inside cave
  • Some caves go deep down into the Earth. 
 

b. deep = far into a topic or situation

This use of the word “deep” has something to do with how involved a person is with a situation or another person. 

  • The love she feels for her husband is deep. 
  • They have a deep relationship. 
  • Tom is a very deep thinker. 
  • You’re in deep trouble. 
  • That’s deep. (Said when a person expresses a profound thought.) 
  • The company made deep cuts to its budget for next year. 
  • Maria has a deep understanding of the situation. 

a. deep = far into a topic or situation

man and woman embracing each other
  • The love they feel for each other is very deep. 
 
A mother confronts her child, who is upset.
  • This little girl is in deep, deep trouble. 
 

c. deeply -- adverb

The word “deeply” is an adverb, but sometimes you will hear the word “deep” used as an adverb as well. 

  • I am deeply sorry if I offended you. (The adjective “sorry” is modified by the adverb, “deeply.”) 
  • We are deeply troubled by the situation unfolding in the Middle East. (deeply troubled = adverb adjective) 
  • They care deeply for each other. 
  • He said he was deeply grateful for the help. 
  • She looked deep into his eyes. (Yes, it should be “deeply,” but it’s common to hear and read “deep” as an adverb.) 
  • They’re deep in debt. They’re deeply in debt. (Both are okay.) 
  • They went deep into debt. They went deeply into debt. (Both are okay. 
  • He’s going deep for a pass.  (Said for a receiver in American football.) 
  • Why did you wake me? I was deep asleep. 

c. deeply -- adverb

white and blue magnetic card
  • Some people go deeply into debt because they pay for everything with credit cards .
Barack Obama
  • The people of the United States are deeply grateful for the service and leadership that Barack Obama provided for eight years as President. 

d. depth -- noun

The word “depth” is a noun. This is a word for physical things, emotions, relationships, and the understanding of a topic. 

  • The depth of the water in this part of the lake is about 20 feet. 
  • The teacher went into great depth on the topic of conditional sentences in English. 
  • How do you measure the depth of a hole in the ground? 
  • The film we saw last night challenged the depths of our imaginations. 
  • She shows tremendous depth as an actress. 

c. depth -- noun

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  • The depth of her sadness is hard for others to understand. 
A tranquil snowy forest scene with a sunlit creek and tall trees on a winter day.
  • The depth of the snow here is about two feet. 

 

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