depression

noun

duh-PRESH-uhn/dəˈpɹɛʃn̩/UKdi-PRESH-uhn/dɪˈpɹɛʃn̩/

Pluraldepressions

6 meanings of depression

Practice

1
mental illnessnouncountable or uncountable
An illness, or a long period of it, in which you feel very sad and hopeless and lose interest in things.
Like a heavy gray cloud that stays over someone and will not go away.
After her father died, she struggled with depression for months.
His depression made it hard to enjoy things he once loved.
UsageSay suffer from depression or have depression.
Note
2
economic slumpnouncountable or uncountable
A long time when a country's economy is very bad and many people have no work.
Like a long, cold winter for a country's money and jobs.
The depression in the 1930s left millions without work.
Banks failed and factories closed during the depression.
UsageThe Great Depression means the hard years of the 1930s. A smaller slump is a recession.
Note
3
low air pressurenouncountable
An area where the air pressure is low, often bringing wet or stormy weather.
Like a dip in the air's weight that pulls in clouds and rain.
A depression over the coast brought three days of heavy rain.
Forecasters said the depression would move inland by morning.
Similarlow
Oppositeanticyclone, high
Note
4
low groundnouncountable
A low part of a surface, such as a spot on the ground that is lower than the land around it.
Like a dent in the ground, the way a spoon leaves a dip in sand.
Rainwater collected in a depression in the field.
We pitched the tent away from the depression so it would not flood.
Similarhollow, dip, basin, hole, trough
Oppositerise, mound, bump
Note
5
lowered activity (body)nouncountable or uncountable
A drop in the activity of a body system or in a measured body level.
Like turning down the dial on a machine so it works more slowly.
Too much of the drug can cause a dangerous depression of the heart rate.
Doctors watched for any depression in the patient's breathing.
Similarsuppression, reduction, decrease, impairment, inhibition
Oppositeelevation, stimulation, increase
Note

Less common meaning

6
pressing downnouncountable or uncountable
The action of lowering something or pressing it down.
Like pushing a doorbell down with your finger.
The depression of the lever opened the gate.
A quick depression of the button starts the machine.
Similarpressing, lowering
Oppositerelease, raising
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of depression apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It came through Old French from Latin "dēpressiō". It is "depress" plus "-ion".

Checked 7 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The word came through Old French from Latin dēpressiō. en.wiktionary.org
The word is equivalent to depress plus -ion. en.wiktionary.org