The verb "depress" at a C1 level encompasses a nuanced understanding of its various applications, extending beyond simple sadness.
It can describe the act of causing a significant and often prolonged emotional downturn, leading to feelings of hopelessness or apathy in an individual.
Beyond the emotional, "depress" also refers to a reduction in activity, intensity, or value, such as depressing economic growth or market prices.
Furthermore, it is used in a more literal sense to indicate the action of pressing something downwards, like depressing a lever or a key.
Therefore, understanding "depress" at this level involves discerning its context to correctly interpret whether it refers to psychological states, economic trends, or physical actions.
depress در ۳۰ ثانیه
- make sad
- reduce activity/strength
- press down
§ Grammar and Usage
The verb 'depress' is quite versatile and can be used in several grammatical structures, often reflecting its different meanings. Understanding these structures will help you use the word accurately and naturally.
§ Meaning 1: To make someone feel sad
- Transitive Verb (Subject + Depress + Object)
- In this common usage, 'depress' takes a direct object, which is usually a person or a group of people. It means to cause them to feel very sad or without hope.
The constant bad news can depress anyone.
His illness began to depress him greatly.
§ Meaning 2: To cause something to become less active or strong
- Transitive Verb (Subject + Depress + Object)
- Here, 'depress' is used to describe a reduction in activity, strength, or value, often in economic or medical contexts. The object is typically an abstract noun or a system.
High interest rates can depress consumer spending.
The recession continued to depress the housing market.
§ Meaning 3: To press something down
- Transitive Verb (Subject + Depress + Object)
- In its most literal sense, 'depress' means to push something downwards. The object here is a physical item.
You need to depress the lever to activate the machine.
Carefully depress the button to release the catch.
§ Prepositions with 'Depress'
While 'depress' doesn't frequently combine with prepositions to form phrasal verbs, it can be followed by prepositions when describing the context or cause of the depression.
- Depress + by: Used to indicate what causes the feeling of sadness or a reduction in activity.
She was deeply depressed by the news of her friend's departure.
The market was depressed by fears of a global economic slowdown.
- Depress + into: Less common, but can be used with the 'press down' meaning to describe the outcome of pressing something.
He had to depress the button further into the panel.
§ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using 'depress' interchangeably with 'sad': While 'depress' causes sadness, it implies a deeper, more profound sense of sadness and hopelessness than simply being sad.
- Overusing 'depress': Consider synonyms like 'discourage,' 'dishearten,' 'lower,' or 'reduce' to add variety to your vocabulary.
- Confusing with 'oppress': 'Oppress' means to keep someone in subservience and hardship, especially by the unjust exercise of authority. While both can cause negative feelings, their core meanings are different.
§ Understanding 'Depress'
- Definition
- To make someone feel very sad and without hope, or to cause something to become less active or strong. It can also mean to press something down.
The word 'depress' is a versatile verb with a few distinct meanings, making it important to understand the context in which it's used. At its core, it often relates to a reduction or a downward motion, whether emotional or physical.
§ Emotional Impact
One of the most common uses of 'depress' is in relation to emotions. When something 'depresses' someone, it means it makes them feel very sad, disheartened, or without hope. This can range from temporary sadness to a more profound and lasting feeling, often leading to the clinical condition of depression.
The constant bad news can really depress some people.
It's easy for negative thoughts to depress your mood.
§ Reduction in Activity or Strength
Another significant meaning of 'depress' is to cause something to become less active, weaker, or to decline. This usage is common in various fields, from economics to medicine.
- In economics, a recession can 'depress' the market, meaning it causes economic activity to slow down.
- In science, certain chemicals or conditions can 'depress' the function of organs or systems in the body, making them less effective.
- In general conversation, a lack of interest might 'depress' enthusiasm for a project.
High interest rates can depress consumer spending.
Lack of sleep can depress your immune system.
§ Physical Action: Pressing Down
Finally, 'depress' can refer to the physical act of pressing something down. This is perhaps the most literal interpretation of the word.
You need to depress the brake pedal firmly to stop the car.
To open the lid, depress the button on the side.
§ Where you actually hear this word
You'll encounter 'depress' in a variety of settings, reflecting its multiple meanings.
- News: Often used in economic reports (e.g., "rising inflation could depress economic growth") or social commentary (e.g., "stories of conflict can depress global morale").
- Work: Depending on the industry, it could be used in technical instructions (e.g., "depress the lever to engage the mechanism") or in discussions about productivity and morale (e.g., "low sales figures might depress the team's spirits").
- School: In subjects like psychology, you might study factors that 'depress' mood or cognitive function. In physics, you might discuss how pressure can 'depress' a surface.
- Everyday Conversation: While less common for the physical pressing action, it's frequently used to describe feelings ("That movie really depressed me") or situations that cause a decline ("The bad weather depressed our plans").
Understanding these different contexts will greatly improve your comprehension when you come across the word 'depress' in your daily life.
مثالها بر اساس سطح
The bad news will depress him.
His spirits will sink because of the news.
Simple future tense, 'depress' as a verb meaning to make sad.
It is cold, so the plants will depress.
The cold weather will make the plants weaker.
Simple future tense, 'depress' meaning to become less active.
He will depress the button.
He will push the button down.
Simple future tense, 'depress' meaning to press down.
Sad movies can depress me.
Movies that are sad can make me feel sad.
Simple present tense, 'depress' as a verb meaning to make sad.
The heavy rain can depress the flowers.
Heavy rain can make the flowers droop.
Simple present tense, 'depress' meaning to become less active.
You should depress the pedal gently.
You should push the pedal down softly.
Modal verb 'should', 'depress' meaning to press down.
The long winter can depress some people.
A long winter can make some people feel sad.
Simple present tense, 'depress' as a verb meaning to make sad.
Don't depress the key too hard.
Don't push the key down with too much force.
Negative imperative, 'depress' meaning to press down.
The bad news really depressed him.
La mala noticia realmente lo deprimió.
Past tense of 'depress'.
Rainy weather can depress some people.
El clima lluvioso puede deprimir a algunas personas.
Present tense, general truth.
Don't let failures depress you.
No dejes que los fracasos te depriman.
Imperative, negative command.
The doctor gave him medicine to help depress his fever.
El médico le dio medicamentos para ayudar a bajar su fiebre.
Used to mean 'reduce' or 'lower'.
She had to depress the brake pedal to stop the car.
Tuvo que presionar el pedal del freno para detener el coche.
Used to mean 'press down'.
His spirits were depressed after losing the game.
Su ánimo estaba deprimido después de perder el partido.
Passive voice, expressing a state.
The lack of sunlight can depress plants.
La falta de luz solar puede deprimir las plantas.
Present tense, general truth.
You need to depress the button firmly.
Debes presionar el botón firmemente.
Used to mean 'press down'.
The news of the job loss began to depress him, making it hard to find motivation.
Job loss can make someone feel very sad and without hope, affecting their motivation.
Here, 'depress' is used to describe an emotional state, meaning to make someone feel sad.
Heavy rain and grey skies can often depress my spirits, even if just for a short time.
Gloomy weather can lower one's mood or spirits, making them feel down.
'Depress my spirits' is an idiom meaning to make one feel sad or dispirited.
The economic downturn threatened to depress consumer spending, leading to further business struggles.
An economic slowdown can reduce or weaken consumer purchasing, impacting businesses.
In this context, 'depress' means to cause something to become less active or strong, specifically consumer spending.
To release the mechanism, you need to depress the small button on the side of the device.
To activate a part of a machine, you must push down a specific control.
Here, 'depress' means to press something down, often referring to a button or lever.
The lack of progress in the negotiations started to depress the team's morale.
When talks don't move forward, it can lower the team's enthusiasm and confidence.
'Depress morale' means to make the team feel less confident or enthusiastic.
He had to depress the brake pedal firmly to stop the car safely.
To halt the vehicle securely, he needed to push down hard on the foot control.
This use of 'depress' means to press down with force, specifically the brake pedal.
A constant stream of negative news can really depress people and make them feel hopeless about the future.
Hearing only bad news continuously can make people feel very sad and without hope for what's to come.
Similar to the first example, 'depress people' means to make them feel very sad and hopeless.
The government's new policies might depress investment in certain sectors of the economy.
New government rules could reduce or weaken financial contributions in specific areas of the economy.
Here, 'depress' signifies a decrease in activity or strength, applied to investment.
ترکیبهای رایج
عبارات رایج
It depresses me when...
The news depressed her.
His failure to get the job depressed him.
The prolonged illness depressed her spirits.
The recession depressed the housing market.
High interest rates depress consumer spending.
To depress the accelerator pedal.
Depress the brake to stop.
Don't let it depress you too much.
The dark weather can depress some people.
الگوهای دستوری
اصطلاحات و عبارات
"Depress the accelerator"
To push down the accelerator pedal in a vehicle.
He depressed the accelerator and the car sped up.
neutral"Depress the mood"
To make the atmosphere or general feeling sad or gloomy.
The news of the layoffs really depressed the mood in the office.
neutral"Depressed market"
A market where prices or activity levels are low.
The housing market has been depressed for the past year.
formal"Depressed economy"
An economy suffering from low growth, high unemployment, and reduced demand.
The government is trying to stimulate the depressed economy.
formal"Depressed areas"
Regions or communities suffering from economic hardship and lack of opportunities.
There are programs designed to help rejuvenate depressed areas.
formal"Depress the button"
To press a button, usually to activate something.
You need to depress the button firmly to open the door.
neutral"Depress one's spirits"
To make someone feel sad or disheartened.
The constant bad weather began to depress her spirits.
neutral"Depress the switch"
To push down a switch.
Depress the switch to turn on the light.
neutral"Depress the lever"
To push down a lever.
Depress the lever to release the mechanism.
neutral"Deeply depressed"
Feeling extremely sad and hopeless, often indicating a clinical condition.
After losing his job, he became deeply depressed.
neutralالگوهای جملهسازی
depress (somebody)
The gloomy weather often depresses me.
depress (something)
High interest rates are likely to depress the economy.
depress (something) (down)
You depress the lever to activate the machine.
be depressed (by something)
She was depressed by the news of her father's illness.
depress (somebody) that...
It depresses me that we're making so little progress.
depress (somebody) to do something
It depresses me to think about the suffering in the world.
depress (somebody/something) into (state/action)
The lack of opportunities depressed him into a state of hopelessness.
depress (something) with (something)
He depressed the brake pedal with his foot.
خانواده کلمه
اسمها
صفتها
نحوه استفاده
The verb 'depress' has a couple of distinct meanings, and understanding the context is key to using it correctly.
Firstly, it can mean to make someone feel very sad and without hope. For example:
- "The gloomy weather always depresses me."
- "The news of the job loss really depressed her."
Secondly, 'depress' can mean to cause something to become less active or strong, or to reduce its value or level. For instance:
- "High interest rates can depress consumer spending."
- "The heavy snowfall depressed the roof of the old shed."
Finally, it can literally mean to press something down. For example:
- "You need to depress the pedal firmly to make the car move."
- "He depressed the lever to release the mechanism."
One common mistake is confusing 'depress' with 'oppress'. While both can have negative connotations, they are not interchangeable. 'Depress' relates to feelings of sadness or a reduction in something, whereas 'oppress' means to keep someone in hardship and subservience by unjust exercise of authority.
Another mistake is using 'depress' when a simpler, more direct verb like 'push down' or 'lower' would be more appropriate for physical actions, unless you want to convey a sense of force or significance. For instance, instead of "He depressed the button," you might simply say "He pushed the button," unless the act of pressing was particularly forceful or led to a significant outcome.
حفظ کنید
روش یادسپاری
Imagine a situation where a 'press' (like a printing press) is making you 'deep'ly sad. So, 'deep-press' = depress.
تداعی تصویری
Picture a heavy, dark cloud pressing down on a person, making them feel sad and small. Or, visualize a broken 'press' machine that used to be strong, now inactive and rusting.
شبکه واژگان
چالش
Try to use 'depress' in a sentence when talking about something that makes you feel down, or when describing how to push something down. For example, 'The gloomy weather always seems to depress me,' or 'You need to depress the lever to open the compartment.'
خودت رو بسنج 48 سوال
The bad news will ___ him.
To 'depress' someone means to make them feel very sad. Bad news usually makes people sad.
Don't ___ the button too hard.
To 'depress' something can also mean to press it down.
Rainy weather can sometimes ___ people.
For some people, rainy weather makes them feel sad or down, which is to 'depress' them.
The economy is starting to ___.
When the economy becomes less active or strong, it is said to 'depress'.
The heavy work can ___ your energy.
Heavy work can make your energy become less strong or active, which means to 'depress' it.
If you ___ the brake pedal, the car will stop.
To 'depress' a pedal means to press it down.
The news of his pet's disappearance began to ___ him.
To 'depress' someone means to make them feel very sad. The disappearance of a pet would likely cause sadness.
Don't let a bad day ___ you; tomorrow is a new start.
To 'depress' someone means to make them feel very sad and without hope. A bad day could do this.
The heavy rain can ___ the spirits of people on vacation.
Heavy rain on a vacation can make people feel sad or unhappy, hence 'depress' their spirits.
If you ___ the button, the machine will start.
To 'depress' can also mean to press something down. Pressing a button makes sense in this context.
Sometimes, cold weather can ___ some people and make them feel blue.
Cold weather can sometimes make people feel sad, or 'depress' them.
The low sales figures began to ___ the team's morale.
Low sales figures would likely cause the team to feel less hopeful or sad about their performance, thus 'depressing' their morale.
Which of these might 'depress' someone?
A sad movie often makes people feel sad or without hope, which is one meaning of 'depress'.
If something 'depresses' the economy, what does it mean?
In an economic context, 'depress' means to make something less active or strong.
Which action shows someone 'depressing' a button?
To 'depress' something can mean to press it down.
Hearing bad news can depress a person.
Bad news often makes people feel sad or without hope, which aligns with one meaning of 'depress'.
A strong coffee can depress your energy levels.
Strong coffee usually increases energy, it does not make it less active or strong.
You can depress the brake pedal in a car.
To 'depress' can mean to press something down, like a brake pedal.
Which of the following situations would most likely depress someone?
To depress someone means to make them feel very sad and without hope. Personal setbacks and losses are likely to evoke such feelings.
In the context of the economy, what does it mean if policies depress economic growth?
One meaning of 'depress' is to cause something to become less active or strong. In an economic context, this means slowing down growth.
Which sentence uses 'depress' in the sense of pressing something down?
This sentence uses 'depress' as a verb meaning to press something down, which is one of the definitions provided.
If a situation 'depresses' someone, it means it makes them feel joyful and optimistic.
To depress someone means to make them feel very sad and without hope, which is the opposite of joyful and optimistic.
When a government tries to 'depress' inflation, it aims to increase the rate at which prices rise.
To depress something means to cause it to become less active or strong. Therefore, depressing inflation means aiming to reduce the rate at which prices rise, not increase it.
You can 'depress' a button to turn a device on or off.
One of the meanings of 'depress' is to press something down. This applies to pressing buttons to operate devices.
Focus on the speaker's tone and the impact of the illness.
Listen for the effect of inflation mentioned in the sentence.
Pay attention to the action being performed with the pedal.
این را بلند بخوانید:
Experiencing constant setbacks can depress anyone's spirits.
تمرکز: depress, spirits, setbacks
تو گفتی:
تشخیص گفتار در مرورگر شما پشتیبانی نمیشود. از کروم یا اج استفاده کنید.
این را بلند بخوانید:
How do economic downturns typically depress the job market?
تمرکز: economic, downturns, depress, job market
تو گفتی:
تشخیص گفتار در مرورگر شما پشتیبانی نمیشود. از کروم یا اج استفاده کنید.
این را بلند بخوانید:
When you want to stop the machine, you need to depress this button.
تمرکز: depress, button, machine
تو گفتی:
تشخیص گفتار در مرورگر شما پشتیبانی نمیشود. از کروم یا اج استفاده کنید.
Imagine you are writing a diary entry after a particularly challenging day. How did the events of the day make you feel, and how did you try to overcome those feelings? Use the word 'depress' in your entry.
خوب نوشتید! تلاش خوبی بود! پاسخ نمونه را ببینید.
پاسخ نمونه
Today was incredibly tough. The news about the project delay really started to depress me, and I felt a wave of hopelessness wash over me. I tried to lift my spirits by listening to some upbeat music and talking to a friend, reminding myself that challenges are temporary and I can overcome them.
Write a short paragraph describing a situation where a mechanical part or system might 'depress' something. Think about how the action affects the functionality.
خوب نوشتید! تلاش خوبی بود! پاسخ نمونه را ببینید.
پاسخ نمونه
In many older vehicles, to release the parking brake, you have to depress a lever on the dashboard. This action disengages the brake mechanism, allowing the car to move. Similarly, to operate a stapler, you must depress the top part to drive the staple through the papers.
You are writing an email to a colleague about a recent marketing campaign that didn't perform as expected. Explain how the results might 'depress' the overall morale of the team and what steps you plan to take to address this.
خوب نوشتید! تلاش خوبی بود! پاسخ نمونه را ببینید.
پاسخ نمونه
Hi [Colleague's Name], I wanted to touch base regarding the recent marketing campaign results. While we knew it was ambitious, the lower-than-expected engagement could unfortunately depress team morale if not addressed properly. I plan to hold a brainstorming session next week to review the data, identify areas for improvement, and develop a revised strategy to re-energize everyone. Your input would be greatly appreciated. Best, [Your Name]
What was the main effect of the economic downturn on consumer behavior?
این متن را بخوانید:
The prolonged economic downturn began to depress consumer spending, leading to a significant decrease in retail sales across the country. Businesses struggled to maintain profitability as fewer people were willing to spend on non-essential items. This trend created a ripple effect, impacting employment rates and overall market confidence.
What was the main effect of the economic downturn on consumer behavior?
The passage clearly states that the economic downturn began to 'depress consumer spending,' meaning it caused a decrease.
The passage clearly states that the economic downturn began to 'depress consumer spending,' meaning it caused a decrease.
What caused the residents of the town to feel sad and without hope?
این متن را بخوانید:
After several weeks of relentless rain and grey skies, a feeling of gloom began to depress the spirits of the small town's residents. The usual vibrant atmosphere was replaced by a quiet somberness. Many people found solace in indoor activities, eagerly awaiting the return of sunshine.
What caused the residents of the town to feel sad and without hope?
The passage attributes the 'gloom' and 'depress[ed] spirits' to 'several weeks of relentless rain and grey skies.'
The passage attributes the 'gloom' and 'depress[ed] spirits' to 'several weeks of relentless rain and grey skies.'
According to the passage, what happens if the keys on the old typewriter are not depressed firmly?
این متن را بخوانید:
The old typewriter required a firm and deliberate action to depress each key, ensuring that the hammer struck the ribbon with enough force to leave a clear impression on the paper. If the keys weren't depressed properly, the letters would appear faint or incomplete.
According to the passage, what happens if the keys on the old typewriter are not depressed firmly?
The passage states, 'If the keys weren't depressed properly, the letters would appear faint or incomplete.'
The passage states, 'If the keys weren't depressed properly, the letters would appear faint or incomplete.'
The pervasive economic stagnation threatened to ___ public morale.
To 'depress' public morale means to make it feel very sad and without hope. The other options have the opposite meaning or are not contextually appropriate.
Despite the initial optimism, the persistent challenges began to ___ the team's enthusiasm.
In this context, 'depress' means to cause the team's enthusiasm to become less active or strong. The other options suggest an increase in enthusiasm.
She carefully positioned her foot to ___ the pedal, initiating the complex machinery.
Here, 'depress' means to press something down, which is consistent with operating a pedal. 'Activate' is too general, and the others are antonyms.
The recent political scandal could significantly ___ voter turnout in the upcoming election.
A scandal would likely 'depress' voter turnout, meaning to cause it to become less active or strong. The other options imply an increase.
Constant criticism can inadvertently ___ an individual's self-esteem and confidence.
Constant criticism would 'depress' self-esteem, meaning to make it feel less strong. The other options are positive actions.
To halt the descent of the elevator, one must firmly ___ the emergency brake.
To 'depress' a brake means to press it down to engage its function. The other options are incorrect actions for halting a descent.
The constant gloomy weather seemed to _______ her spirits, making her feel lethargic and unmotivated.
To 'depress' someone's spirits means to make them feel sad or dispirited. 'Elate', 'excite', and 'stimulate' have the opposite meaning.
The economic downturn threatened to _______ consumer spending, leading to fears of a recession.
In this context, 'depress' means to cause something to become less active or strong, which applies to consumer spending during an economic downturn. The other options suggest an increase or improvement.
She had to _______ the lever firmly to engage the locking mechanism.
Here, 'depress' means to press something down. 'Lift' and 'raise' are antonyms, while 'release' has a different meaning.
A rise in interest rates can depress the housing market by making mortgages more expensive.
Higher interest rates typically make borrowing more expensive, which can reduce demand for houses and thus 'depress' the housing market.
If you feel depressed, it means you are extremely happy and energetic.
To feel 'depressed' means to feel very sad and without hope, which is the opposite of being happy and energetic.
To depress the accelerator in a car means to push it down to increase speed.
When you 'depress' the accelerator pedal, you are pressing it down, which typically causes the car to speed up.
/ 48 درست
نمره کامل!
Summary
Depress means to make someone feel sad, reduce activity, or press something down.
- make sad
- reduce activity/strength
- press down
