Meaning & use

depression

noun·Everyday

A mental health condition marked by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest.

See it in a sentence

She was diagnosed with depression after months of feeling exhausted and withdrawn.

Regular exercise and therapy helped him manage his depression over time.

A note on using this word

Depression also names a severe, prolonged economic downturn, as in the Great Depression, and a sunken area on a surface.

Words with a similar meaning

despondency

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. noun

A period of severe economic decline marked by high unemployment and falling production.

Many banks failed during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

3. noun

A sunken or hollow place on a surface.

Rainwater collected in a shallow depression in the field.

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