Explanation at your level:
If you do not have something you need, we say you are deprived. For example, if you do not sleep, you are sleep-deprived. It means you are missing something important.
To deprive someone means to take away something they need. If you hide a child's food, you are depriving them of a meal. It is a sad word because it means someone is losing something good.
We use deprive when someone is prevented from having a basic right or need. It is common to hear 'sleep-deprived' when people are tired. It implies that the situation is unfair or harmful to the person involved.
In more formal contexts, deprive describes the act of withholding rights, resources, or opportunities. It is frequently used in social or legal discussions, such as 'The law deprived citizens of their right to vote,' emphasizing the removal of something fundamental.
The term deprive carries a weight of severity. It is used to describe systemic issues where groups are 'deprived of opportunity' or 'deprived of education.' It suggests an active or passive force that keeps someone from reaching their potential or maintaining their well-being.
Etymologically, deprive suggests a stripping away of one's private status or possessions. In advanced literary or academic discourse, it can be used metaphorically to describe a state of existential lack, such as being 'deprived of meaning' or 'deprived of hope.' It implies a deep, structural absence that fundamentally alters the human condition.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means to take away essentials.
- Always used with 'of'.
- Commonly used as 'sleep-deprived'.
- Formal and serious tone.
When you deprive someone of something, you are essentially saying 'no' to them regarding something they truly need or deserve. It is not just about losing a pen; it is usually about losing something vital like sleep, food, or even human rights.
Think of it as a barrier. If you are deprived of sleep, you feel grumpy and tired because your body is missing a basic requirement for health. It is a powerful word that highlights the negative impact of missing out on essentials.
The word deprive comes from the Latin word deprivare, which means 'to dispossess.' It combines de- (meaning 'away' or 'completely') and privare (meaning 'to bereave' or 'to make private').
Historically, it was used in legal contexts to describe someone being stripped of their property or rank. Over centuries, the meaning shifted from just 'taking property' to the more emotional and physical sense of 'losing something necessary' that we use today.
We almost always use deprive with the preposition of. You don't just 'deprive someone'; you deprive them of something.
It is a serious word, so we use it in formal writing or when discussing significant problems. You wouldn't say, 'My brother deprived me of a cookie' unless you were being very dramatic! It is better suited for contexts like 'The prison was accused of depriving inmates of medical care.'
While 'deprive' itself isn't a common idiom, it appears in phrases related to sleep deprivation. 1. Sleep-deprived: Feeling exhausted from lack of sleep. 2. Deprived of a childhood: Growing up too fast. 3. Deprive of the right to speak: Being silenced. 4. Deprive of oxygen: A medical emergency. 5. Deprive of joy: To make someone feel miserable.
The word is a regular verb: deprive, deprived, depriving. The stress is on the second syllable: de-PRIVE.
It rhymes with alive, thrive, and arrive. In British and American English, the pronunciation is very similar, focusing on the long 'i' sound in the second syllable.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'private', meaning something removed from common use.
Pronunciation Guide
dee-PRYV
dee-PRYV
Common Errors
- pronouncing the 'i' as short 'i'
- stressing the first syllable
- forgetting the 'v' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Clear usage
Easy to structure
Common word
Clear sound
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Prepositional Verbs
deprive of
Passive Voice
was deprived of
Adjective formation
sleep-deprived
Examples by Level
I am sleep deprived.
I need sleep.
Adjective form.
Do not deprive me.
Do not take it.
Imperative.
He is deprived.
He lacks things.
Passive state.
They deprive us.
They take it.
Simple present.
I was deprived.
It was taken.
Past tense.
Don't be deprived.
Stay full.
Passive.
She is deprived.
She lacks care.
State.
We are deprived.
We lack it.
Plural.
The cold weather deprived us of our walk.
He felt deprived of his favorite toy.
They were deprived of food for days.
Don't deprive yourself of fun.
The law deprived them of their rights.
She was deprived of sleep all week.
He was deprived of the chance to win.
They were deprived of clean water.
The long flight left me completely sleep-deprived.
Many children in the area are deprived of basic education.
He felt deprived of the love he deserved.
Do not deprive your body of necessary nutrients.
The regime deprived the people of their freedom.
She was deprived of the opportunity to explain.
Are you depriving yourself of a good life?
The drought deprived the village of water.
The prisoner was deprived of contact with the outside world.
Poverty often deprives children of a stable home life.
He was deprived of his inheritance by a corrupt relative.
The injury deprived him of his ability to play sports.
They were deprived of the chance to say goodbye.
She felt deprived of the recognition she earned.
The policy deprived many of their livelihood.
We cannot allow them to be deprived of justice.
The artist felt deprived of inspiration during the long winter.
The new regulations effectively deprive small businesses of funding.
He was deprived of his dignity by the cruel treatment.
The isolation deprived him of his sense of time.
The war deprived a generation of their youth.
The system is designed to deprive the poor of resources.
She was deprived of the comfort of her home.
He was deprived of his reputation by false rumors.
The soul, when deprived of beauty, begins to wither.
He was deprived of his liberty under the guise of national security.
The harsh climate deprived the settlers of any hope for a harvest.
She was deprived of the intellectual stimulation she craved.
The regime sought to deprive the citizens of their cultural identity.
The silence deprived the room of any sense of life.
He was deprived of his status as a nobleman.
The experience deprived him of his former optimism.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"sleep-deprived"
not getting enough sleep
I am very sleep-deprived after the exam.
neutral"deprive someone of their due"
not giving what is earned
Don't deprive him of his due praise.
formal"rob someone of their thunder"
to take credit for someone else's idea
She stole my thunder.
casual"deprived of air"
suffocating
The fire left the room deprived of air.
neutral"deprive of the pleasure"
to stop someone from enjoying something
Don't deprive me of the pleasure of helping.
politeEasily Confused
both mean not having
deny is refusing, deprive is taking away
He denied the claim; he was deprived of food.
both involve taking
remove is physical, deprive is abstract
Remove the chair; deprive him of hope.
same root
noun vs verb
The deprivation was hard; they deprived him.
similar meaning
bereave is about death
He was bereaved; he was deprived.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + deprive + object + of + noun
They deprived him of his rights.
Be + deprived + of + noun
I am deprived of sleep.
Subject + deprive + oneself + of + noun
Don't deprive yourself of fun.
Passive: Object + be + deprived + of + noun
He was deprived of food.
Adjective: Sleep-deprived + subject
The sleep-deprived student slept.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
The verb always takes 'of'.
It needs an object and a preposition.
Wrong preposition.
Use the adjective form.
Usually passive when describing the state.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a thief taking your private things.
Native Speakers
Use it for serious situations.
Social Context
Often used in news about poverty.
The 'Of' Rule
Always pair with 'of'.
Say It
Focus on the long 'i'.
Avoid 'to'
Never use 'to' after deprive.
Latin Roots
Related to 'private'.
Flashcards
Use 'deprived of' on one side.
Formal Writing
Great for essays.
Natural Flow
Practice the 'of' sound.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
DE-PRIVE: DE (take away) + PRIVE (private).
Visual Association
A person with an empty plate.
Word Web
Challenge
Write a sentence using 'sleep-deprived'.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: to dispossess
Cultural Context
Can be a sensitive word when discussing poverty or human rights.
Used often in discussions about social welfare and human rights.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
School
- deprived of resources
- deprived of time
- deprived of help
Health
- sleep-deprived
- deprived of oxygen
- deprived of nutrients
Legal
- deprived of rights
- deprived of liberty
- deprived of property
Daily Life
- deprived of fun
- deprived of joy
- deprived of comfort
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever felt sleep-deprived?"
"What is something people are often deprived of?"
"Is it ever okay to deprive someone of something?"
"How does being deprived of technology feel?"
"Can you think of a character who was deprived of their rights?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you were deprived of sleep.
Describe what it means to be deprived of basic needs.
Why is it important not to deprive others of their voice?
Reflect on a time you felt deprived of something you wanted.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is a verb.
Use it with 'of'.
Deprivation.
It can be formal or neutral.
No, that is incorrect.
Not enough sleep.
No, it is usually negative.
Yes.
Test Yourself
I am ___ of sleep.
Adjective form needed.
What does deprive mean?
It means to remove.
Deprive is followed by 'to'.
It is followed by 'of'.
Word
Meaning
Correct synonym match.
Subject-Verb-Prep phrase.
Score: /5
Summary
To deprive someone is to take away something they truly need.
- Means to take away essentials.
- Always used with 'of'.
- Commonly used as 'sleep-deprived'.
- Formal and serious tone.
Memory Palace
Imagine a thief taking your private things.
Native Speakers
Use it for serious situations.
Social Context
Often used in news about poverty.
The 'Of' Rule
Always pair with 'of'.
Example
Do not deprive yourself of sleep.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More Social words
abanthropate
C1Describes a state of being removed from, or having lost, the essential qualities and characteristics of humanity. It is often used in philosophical or literary contexts to describe a person or entity that has transcended or been alienated from the human condition.
abhospence
C1A rare or formal term describing the state or act of lacking hospitality, or the deliberate withdrawal of a welcoming attitude towards guests or outsiders. It refers to a cold, inhospitable atmosphere or a specific instance where a host fails to provide expected comforts or kindness.
abjudtude
C1The state or quality of being formally rejected, cast off, or disowned through an authoritative or judicial decision. It refers to a condition of absolute renunciation where a person or entity is stripped of their previous status or rights.
abphobship
C1A formal adjective describing a systemic and deep-seated aversion to institutional hierarchies or organized authority figures. It is frequently applied in sociological and organizational contexts to describe individuals or movements that intentionally distance themselves from formal power structures.
abstinence
B2Abstinence is the practice of voluntarily refraining from satisfying an appetite or craving, most commonly for alcohol, food, or sexual activity. It often implies a conscious, self-imposed choice to avoid certain behaviors for health, religious, or moral reasons.
abtactship
C1The state or quality of being detached from physical contact or tangible interaction, often used in theoretical or philosophical contexts to describe non-tactile relationships. It refers to a condition where one is removed from the immediate physical presence of an object or person.
abtrudship
C1To forcefully impose one's leadership, authority, or specific set of rules onto a group without their consent or prior consultation. It describes the act of thrusting a structured way of doing things upon others in a dominant or intrusive manner.
abvictious
C1To strategically yield or concede a minor position or advantage in order to ensure a greater ultimate victory. It describes a sophisticated form of success achieved through intentional, calculated loss or withdrawal.
abvolism
C1The philosophical or psychological practice of intentionally distancing oneself from established social norms, family structures, or institutional obligations to achieve total individual autonomy. It characterizes a state of detachment where an individual 'flies away' from conventional expectations to live according to purely personal principles.
acceptance
B2Acceptance is the act of agreeing to an offer, plan, or invitation, or the process of being received into a group or society. It also refers to the willingness to tolerate a difficult situation or the state of being approved by others.
