depress Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb lower someone's spirits; make downhearted
    dispirit; dismay; deject; demoralise; get down; cast down; demoralize.
    • These news depressed her
    • The bad state of her child's health demoralizes her
  2. verb lower (prices or markets)
    • The glut of oil depressed gas prices
  3. verb cause to drop or sink
    lower.
    • The lack of rain had depressed the water level in the reservoir
  4. verb press down
    press down.
    • Depress the space key
  5. verb lessen the activity or force of
    • The rising inflation depressed the economy

WordNet

De*press" transitive verb
Etymology
L. depressus, p. p. of deprimere; de- + premere to press. See Press.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Depressed ; present participle & verbal noun Depressing
Definitions
  1. To press down; to cause to sink; to let fall; to lower; as, to depress the muzzle of a gun; to depress the eyes. "With lips depressed." Tennyson.
  2. To bring down or humble; to abase, as pride.
  3. To cast a gloom upon; to sadden; as, his spirits were depressed.
  4. To lessen the activity of; to make dull; embarrass, as trade, commerce, etc.
  5. To lessen in price; to cause to decline in value; to cheapen; to depreciate.
  6. (Math.) To reduce (an equation) in a lower degree. Syn. -- To sink; lower; abase; cast down; deject; humble; degrade; dispirit; discourage.
De*press" adjective
Etymology
L. depressus, p. p.
Definitions
  1. Having the middle lower than the border; concave. Obs.
    If the seal be depress or hollow. Hammond.

Webster 1913