ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Depression

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /dɪˈpɹɛʃən/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Depression is a noun meaning (geography) An area that is lower in topography than its surroundings.

Meaning

(geography) An area that is lower in topography than its surroundings.

More Meanings

  1. (meteorology) An area of lowered air pressure that generally brings moist weather, sometimes promoting hurricanes and tornadoes.
  2. (economics) A period of major economic contraction.
  3. The act of lowering or pressing something down.
  4. (biology, physiology) A lowering, in particular a reduction in a particular biological variable or the function of an organ, in contrast to elevation.
  5. (psychology, usually uncountable) A state of mind producing serious, long-term lowering of enjoyment of life or inability to visualize a happy future; any of several mental disorders with this state of mind as a central feature.
  6. (psychology, countable) A period of low morale or unhappiness (a period of experiencing the above-mentioned state of mind) which lasts longer than several weeks and may include ideation of self-inflicted injury or suicide.

Example Sentences

Depression of the lever starts the machine.
I used to suffer from depression, but now I'm mostly content with my life.
Many alcoholics who die from suicide suffer from deep depressions that are quite frequently protracted,[…]
[…] your illness reflects the textbook description of bipolar disorder (euphoric, grandiose, manic highs followed by deep depressions,[…]

Word Forms

Synonyms for depression

Depending on context, synonyms include despondency, hopelessness, misery, blueness, tristesse, mirthless.

Antonyms for depression

Common opposites include boom, elation, elevation.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include slump, impression, imprint, low, low pressure, aborted.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.