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depth

depth

146 4.4
Serious, careful thinking or strong understanding of a subject
  • noun
  • /dɛpθ/
translation icon : profundidad
  • Alternatively, surveys that focus in depth on these issues would accomplish this goal.
  • explore in depth
  • in-depth analysis
  • an in-depth study

If if if you're willing to explore with depth, you'll find meaning.

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Examples

  • She was a woman of great depth.

  • It's a role that required a person with real dramatic depth.

  • And we'll, we'll discuss that in greater depth next time.

  • So let's now go and look in more depth at each of these three things.

  • I never really understood the depth of that meaning until I had a gay child.

  • And the truth I didn't know was the depth of my value and my worth.

  • Grubb's work is arguably the most in-depth study of teaching in community colleges to date.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Other arguments were developed in great depth with elaborate justifications, challenges, and counterchallenges.

    Academic text (2015)
  • I began to appreciate the depth of his character after spending more time with him.

  • Her novel explores the emotional depth of love and loss, making it a profound read.

Synonyms

insight
vsdepth
493 4.9

A deep clear understanding of how something really is

is steadier, covering ongoing thought and emotional complexity
9 3.7

A strong and complete knowledge of a subject or idea

also highlights layered emotion and complex meaning beyond grasp alone
profundity
vsdepth
  • Formal
3 8.4

A serious, clear way of thinking that shows strong understanding of important ideas

is broader, also including serious emotional complexity
thoughtfulness
vsdepth
2 3.8

Careful, long attention to an idea before deciding

leans toward careful thinking rather than strong emotional perception
deepness
vsdepth
1 7.0

Thought that shows strong understanding of complex ideas

places more emphasis on serious feeling and layered meaning
insightfulness
vsdepth
1 6.7

A deep understanding that sees what others do not about people or situations

is the general quality of serious thought rather than specific noticing
profoundness
vsdepth
7.5

Great depth of thought or feeling that shows strong understanding

includes both thought and feeling rather than only the thinking side
reflectivity
vsdepth
6.9

Attention to your own thoughts and feelings

is more about intense feeling combined with complex thinking

Antonyms

Lack of deep thought or careful attention

Idioms

Cannot deal with a new or difficult situation

To understand how serious or important something is

Compounds

depth charge
  • Specialized
3 8.1

A bomb that explodes underwater at a set depth to destroy submarines

The deepest parts of the ocean far below the surface

Strong and complex feelings shown in art, writing, or by a person

A strong, detailed understanding of a subject

depth gauge
  • Specialized
1 5.9

A tool for measuring how deep holes or grooves are

depth finder
  • Specialized
1 5.0

A device that shows how deep the water is

depth psychology
  • Specialized
1 7.6

A way of studying hidden thoughts and feelings to understand people's behavior and help them in therapy

depth bomb
  • Archaic
8.1

A weapon that explodes underwater at a set depth to attack submarines

8.7

A device that throws explosive charges into the sea to attack submarines from a ship

depth gage
  • Specialized
7.0

A tool for measuring how deep a hole or groove is

depth of knowledge
  • Specialized
6.7

A set of levels showing how difficult thinking tasks are for students

Not giving much detail or careful thought

sonic depth finder
  • Specialized
7.6

A device that uses sound waves to measure how deep water or things under it are

How Deep

profundity
  • Formal
3 8.4
depth
146 4.4
insight
493 4.9

Surface Forms

depth singular
depths plural

Morphology

depth = deep (semi-transparent) = deep + th

The intellectual/insight sense is a metaphorical extension of the physical sense, so the morphological relation is clear but the exact abstract meaning requires recognizing the metaphor.

Etymology

The word depth comes from the Old English word deep, which you can think of as 'not shallow' or 'very serious', so a helpful way to remember is to imagine deep thinking. That's why we use depth to describe careful or strong understanding.