1
: extending far from some surface or area: such as
a
: extending far downward
a deep well
a deep chasm
b(1)
: extending well inward from an outer surface
a deep gash
a deep-chested animal
(2)
: not located superficially within the body
deep pressure receptors in muscles
c
: extending well back from a surface accepted as front
a deep closet
d
: extending far laterally from the center
deep borders of lace
e
sports
: occurring or located near the outer limits of the playing area
hit to deep right field
f
sports
: thrown or hit for a considerable distance : thrown or hit deep (see deep entry 2 sense 3b)
a deep pass
a deep fly ball
2
: having a specified extension in an implied direction usually downward or backward
a shelf 20 inches deep
cars parked three-deep
3
a
: difficult to penetrate or comprehend : recondite
deep mathematical problems
deep discussions on the meaning of life
b
: mysterious, obscure
a deep dark secret
c
: grave or lamentable in nature or effect
in deepest disgrace
d
: of penetrating intellect : wise
a deep thinker
e
: intensely engrossed or immersed
She was deep in her book.
f
: characterized by profundity of feeling or quality
a deep sleep
4
a
of color
: high in saturation and low in lightness
a deep red
b
: having a low musical pitch (see pitch entry 4 sense 4b) or pitch range
a deep voice
5
a
: situated well within the boundaries
a house deep in the woods
b
: remote in time or space
found deep in rural England
c
: being below the level of consciousness
deep neuroses
d
: covered, enclosed, or filled to a specified degree
—usually used in combination
ankle-deep in mud
6
: large
deep discounts
7
: having many good players
a deep bullpen
8
computing
: having or using many repetitions of algorithmic processing
deep learning
a deep neural network
deeply
adverb
deepness
noun
1
: to a great depth : deeply
still waters run deep
tunneled deep into the earth
2
: far on : late
danced deep into the night
3
sports
a
: near the outer limits of the playing area
the shortstop was playing deep
b
: long sense 6
threw deep to the wide receiver
hit the ball deep to right field
1
2
: any of the deep portions of a body of water
specifically
: a generally long and narrow area in the ocean where the depth exceeds 3000 fathoms (5500 meters)
the Aldrich Deep in the south Pacific
3
: the middle or most intense part
in the deep of winter
4
nautical
: any of the fathom points on a sounding line other than the marks (see mark entry 1 sense 2b)
Synonyms
Adjective
Noun
Examples of deep in a Sentence
Adjective
We walked in the deep snow.
a deep valley between the mountains
The water is deepest in the middle of the lake.
She's afraid of swimming in deep water.
a plant with deep roots
The house has lots of deep closets.
She has a small but deep wound on her arm.
This enormous canyon is over a mile deep.
The shelves are 10 inches deep.
He stepped into an ankle-deep puddle of mud.
Adverb
The ship now lies deep below the water's surface.
Our feet sank deeper into the mud.
The treasure was buried deep within the ground.
Their secret offices were located deep underground.
We walked deep into the forest.
The soldiers are operating deep within enemy territory.
I stood three feet deep in the water.
He stepped ankle-deep into a puddle of mud.
Noun
the kind of cold weather that we usually have only in the deep of winter
sailors exploring the farther reaches of the briny deep
Recent Examples on the Web
Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
The rain will be history, but the cold will be even deeper.
—Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
The young boy embarks on a perilous journey deep into the mountains to confront the spirit and prevent the destruction of his village.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2024
But the Hard Quartet dip their four sets of lips into those waters and drink deep.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deep 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
The occasionally deep thinkers on the Grading The Week crew don’t mind coaches who refuse to stick to sports.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
The rain will be history, but the cold will be even deeper.
—Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Adverb
In front of them, there’s a massive number 40 carved deep into a field, creating a dirty, muddy obstacle course.
—Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
The young boy embarks on a perilous journey deep into the mountains to confront the spirit and prevent the destruction of his village.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
In their chances of mounting a deep, albeit unconventional, potential run through the playoffs.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2024
But the Hard Quartet dip their four sets of lips into those waters and drink deep.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deep
Dictionary Entries Near deep
Cite this Entry
“Deep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deep. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deep
1 of 3 adjective1
a
: extending far downward
a deep well
b
: having a great distance between the top and bottom surfaces : not shallow
deep water
c
: extending well inward from an outer or front surface
a deep gash
d
: extending far outward from a center
deep space
e
: occurring or located near the outer limits
deep right field
2
: having a specified extension downward or backward
a shelf 40 centimeters deep
3
a
: difficult to understand
a deep book
b
: mysterious, obscure
a deep dark secret
c
: profound sense 1
a deep thinker
d
: completely absorbed
deep in thought
e
: being to an extreme degree : heavy
deep sleep
4
a
: dark and rich in color
a deep red
b
: having a low musical pitch or range
a deep voice
5
a
: coming from or located well within
a deep sigh
a house deep in the forest
b
: covered, enclosed, or filled often to a specified degree
knee-deep in water
a road deep with snow
deeply
adverb
deep
3 of 3 noun1
a
: an extremely deep place or part (as of the ocean)
b
2
: the middle or most intense part
the deep of night
Medical Definition
deep
adjective1
a
: extending well inward from an outer surface
a deep gash
b(1)
: not located superficially within the body or one of its parts
deep pressure receptors in muscles
(2)
: resulting from or involving stimulation of deep structures
deep pain
deep reflexes
2
: being below the level of the conscious
deep neuroses
deeply
adverb
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