# deep

/ˈdip/ (US) · /dˈiːp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/deep
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. far down or in

adjective · CEFR A2

going a long way down from the surface or far into something.

For teachers: extending far downward from the top or surface, or far inward from the outer edge.

- The children were warned not to swim in the deep end of the pool.
- The divers explored a deep underwater cave that had remained untouched by humans for centuries.

### 2. serious or complex

adjective · CEFR B1

showing great knowledge or serious thought that is not easy to understand.

For teachers: requiring or showing great intellectual depth or complexity; not superficial.

- They had a deep conversation about the meaning of life until late at night.
- The professor's lecture provided a deep analysis of the economic factors that led to the industrial revolution.

### 3. sound or colour

adjective · CEFR B1

describing a low sound or a dark, strong colour.

For teachers: low in pitch or frequency; having high saturation and low lightness in colour.

- He has a very deep voice that carries across the room.
- She wore a dress of deep red velvet that shimmered under the ballroom lights.

### 4. intense sleep

adjective · CEFR B1

a state of sleep that is very difficult to wake up from.

For teachers: referring to a state of heavy, profound sleep characterized by low responsiveness to external stimuli.

- I was in such a deep sleep that I didn't hear the thunderstorm.
- After the exhausting hike, the entire group fell into a deep sleep before the sun had even set.

### 5. to a great depth

adverb · CEFR B1

far down or far into something.

For teachers: to a significant depth or distance inward; often used figuratively to describe involvement.

- You need to breathe in deep before you start the exercise.
- The roots of the ancient oak tree reach deep into the soil to find water during the dry summer months.

### 6. the ocean

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary

the deepest part of the sea or ocean.

For teachers: the most profound or central part of a body of water or a period of time; often used with 'the'.

- Strange creatures live in the dark silence of the deep.
- The sailors told legends of giant monsters that rose from the deep to swallow entire ships.

### 7. to overthink

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · British English

to think about something too much or take it too seriously.

For teachers: to consider something with excessive gravity or to overanalyse a situation.

- Don't deep it too much; he probably just forgot to reply to your text.
- I started to deep the situation and realized I might have overreacted during our meeting yesterday.

## Examples

- The water in this part of the lake is very deep.
- The divers were warned not to go too far because the ocean becomes incredibly deep just past the reef.
- The author uses deep metaphors to explore the protagonist's grief, creating a narrative that requires careful reading to fully grasp its emotional weight.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.