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deep

deep

583 7.6
Hard to understand or explain
  • adjective
  • /dip/
translation icon : profundo
  • On one level, this is a fair charge, but at a deeper level, the logic becomes apparent.
  • a deep understanding
  • a deep meaning
  • a deep level

So yeah, it's probably not that deep, but that's why.

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Examples

  • Students wondered, how could he write such a deep, dark emotional flash piece?

    Academic text (2015)
  • And it needs a lot of deep, deep thinking.

  • Scale of one to ten, uh, how deep do you want my response to be?

  • The data were gathered to gain a deeper understanding of why the results might have occurred.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The teachers brought to their classrooms a deep understanding of the middle school concept.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Teacher prompts students' thinking to generate more results or a deeper understanding of what they experienced.

    Academic text (2012)
  • More importantly, it is anticipated that students will take a deeper interest in science and math.

    Academic text (2013)
  • The onus falls on researchers to provide a deeper understanding of their social worlds.

    Academic text (2013)
  • The book presents a deep analysis of human behavior that requires careful thought to grasp.

  • His speech was filled with deep insights about the challenges we face in today's society.

Synonyms

mysterious
vsdeep
498 5.1

Hard to understand or explain because it seems strange

focuses more on intellectual difficulty rather than purely unexplained mystery
cryptic
vsdeep
43 8.1

Hard to understand because it seems secret or mysterious

covers many kinds of intellectual difficulty, not only short hidden meaning
obscure
vsdeep
28 8.2

Hard to understand because it is unclear or complex

also includes deliberately complex or intellectually demanding material
enigmatic
vsdeep
27 8.1

Hard to understand and often seems mysterious

is more general, including intellectual effort as well as mystery
unfathomable
vsdeep
23 8.6

Very hard to understand or measure how deep something is

can mean hard to understand without implying total impossibility
inscrutable
vsdeep
12 8.9

Hard to understand because it shows no clear meaning or feeling

covers general intellectual difficulty rather than total unreadability
mystifying
vsdeep
7 7.3

Causing someone to feel confused

is wider and can mean intense thought rather than just causing confusion
abstruse
vsdeep
  • Formal
3 9.9

Hard to understand because it is very complex

is broader, meaning something hard to understand in many ways
fathomless
vsdeep
2 8.6

So deep that you cannot measure or understand it

covers difficult things that may still be partly understood or explored
recondite
vsdeep
  • Formal
1 9.9

A subject that only a few people understand because it is hard to follow

is wider, applying to any hard to understand idea, not only rare knowledge
unfathomed
vsdeep
1 9.9

Too deep or mysterious to understand

applies to hard to understand things whether explored or not
enigmatical
vsdeep
1 9.3

Hard to understand, like a puzzle

is broader, also applying to complex ideas needing effort to grasp
cryptical
vsdeep
  • Archaic
9.9

Hard to understand because it has a hidden meaning

is broader, including complex but openly expressed ideas as difficult
deepish
vsdeep
4.4

An idea or comment that is fairly serious and makes you think

denotes stronger difficulty, mystery, or higher intellectual effort

Antonyms

1.0

Easy to understand or do

8 1.0

In a way that is easy to hear or understand

Idioms

deep down
  • Informal
117 3.5

In your real feelings or beliefs that you do not show

in too deep
  • Informal
12 7.4

Too involved in a problem or situation to get out easily

You must choose between two options that are both bad

1 8.2

To have to do something difficult without preparation

Focusing very seriously on something in your mind

1 7.8

Start a difficult task without much preparation or experience

1 7.8

Put suddenly into a difficult situation without preparation or help

elbow-deep in
  • Informal
6.8

Very involved in an activity, often working with your hands

Deeply stuck in a difficult situation that is hard to leave

To throw something away and stop using it

this is deep
  • Informal
8.7

People say it when something seems very serious or important, often jokingly

Compounds

205 2.2

To breathe in slowly and fully to help you relax

deep space
  • Specialized
25 6.4

An area far beyond the solar system, between stars and galaxies

21 1.7

Cooked by putting food completely into hot oil

deep end
  • Informal
19 5.6

A difficult situation that forces someone new to cope

19 4.0

A person or company with a lot of money to pay for things

15 4.4

A region in the southeastern United States with a long history and strong local culture

14 2.8

A heavy sleep when the body and mind rest and are not aware of surroundings

knee-deep
  • Informal
13 3.9

Very involved in something, like work or problems

13 4.5

Located very far below the sea surface

A strong feeling of closeness between people or toward a place

A strong and complete knowledge of a subject or idea

deep dive
  • Jargon
8 4.1

A detailed look at a topic to learn more about it

6 2.7

A dark, strong red colour that looks rich

6 3.6

The deepest parts of the ocean far below the surface where little or no sunlight reaches

5 4.7

Only on the surface and not deep inside

5 3.1

Water or mud that reaches up to the knees

5 2.9

Up to someone's waist in water or snow

4 4.9

In very deep parts of the sea

4 3.7

A very strong feeling of sadness after a great loss

4 6.9

Very involved in a difficult situation that is hard to manage

4 2.7

A kitchen machine that cooks food by putting it completely into hot oil

4 4.2

A person who spends time on serious, important ideas

3 3.0

At a depth up to the ankles in water, mud, or snow

deep water
  • Informal
3 5.9

A situation that causes serious trouble

2 4.3

A period of very cold weather that lasts several days

2 1.0

A dark shade of brown like chocolate

2 4.9

An eye set far back in the head that makes the eye area look deep and dark

2 6.0

A time when work or activity stops for a long time

A person who dives deep in the sea using special equipment to protect from high pressure

1 7.0

A very strong feeling that reaches deep into your body or heart

1 4.0

A very heavy sleep that is hard to wake from

A strong feeling of worry that lasts a long time and is hard to change

Serious conversation that looks closely at important or difficult ideas

1 3.5

A very cold freezer for keeping food for a long time

Strong anger that stays inside someone for a long time

An electric kitchen machine that cooks food by putting it completely in hot oil

1 2.6

A large electric box that keeps food very cold for a long time

deep kiss
  • NSFW
1 4.1

A long open-mouthed kiss where people touch tongues

deep cut
  • Jargon
1 8.4

A song on an album that is not a hit but loved by fans

deep sleep
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A low power state when a device turns off most parts but can wake quickly

A pie with a deep layer of fruit filling and a top crust

1 1.8

Having a strong, dark shade of pink

Very tired all through your body so you can barely move

At a height that reaches a person's chest

A place where people cross a river with deep water

7.3

A vein deep in the side of the brain that drains blood toward the base of the brain

A remote northern area that has wild natural beauty

A strong emotional effect that something like music or words has on people

deep cervical vein
  • Specialized
5.5

A blood vessel in the neck that drains blood from muscles near the spine

A person or animal with a deep chest that suggests strength

A careful, detailed study of a subject to find important facts

deep supporting fire
  • Specialized
8.8

Fire from heavy guns at enemy targets far behind friendly troops to disrupt supplies and reinforcements

deep temporal vein
  • Specialized
7.9

A vein in the temple area that carries blood away from nearby muscles

8.4

Secretly and carefully planned to reach a goal

deep-lobed
  • Specialized
7.2

Leaves or body parts that have deep cuts making clear rounded sections, like oak leaves

A strong hidden worry that affects how someone thinks or acts

deep-mined
  • Specialized
6.4

Coal taken from mines deep under the ground, not from the surface

deep-fried
  • Slang
8.2

A picture or video edited to make colours and contrast look too strong

A strong long-held belief in the Pope's authority

A custom people have followed for a long time that is hard to change

A belief that people hold for a long time and find hard to change

A strong, intense yellow like a ripe pumpkin

Eyebrows that sit back above the eyes and make the face look intense

A very deep part of the Atlantic Ocean north of Haiti and Puerto Rico

A problem that looks small but does not fix the real cause

How Complex

profound
123 6.3
deep
583 7.6
complex
648 5.6
simple
1.0

Surface Forms

deep positive
deeper comparative
deepest superlative

Etymology

The word deep comes from old English dēop meaning 'far down', so a deep idea lies under the surface and needs effort to reach. That's why deep can mean hard to understand or mysterious.