deep
deep — noun
1. a word used in poetry and literature to refer to the sea, often suggesting its m
a word used in poetry and literature to refer to the sea, often suggesting its mystery, power, or vast size.
The old fisherman set sail across the deep, searching for a good catch.
literary use: 'the deep' for the sea
Legends say that strange creatures live in the deep.
in the deep
Yumi stood on the cliff, watching the deep stretch endlessly toward the horizon.
For generations, sailors have told frightening stories about the deep.
Sari watched the waves of the deep crash against the rocks far below the lighthouse.
文法句型
the deep
用法筆記
Always used with the definite article 'the'. This sense is primarily found in literary, poetic, or religious texts rather than everyday conversation.
常見錯誤
2. the part of something that is farthest from its surface or outer edges; also use
the part of something that is farthest from its surface or outer edges; also used to describe the time when a feeling, season, or condition is at its most intense.
The treasure lay hidden in the deep of the forest.
in the deep of + place
Eitan could feel the cold in the deep of his bones.
In the deep of winter, the village is often cut off by snow.
Isabela found courage in the deep of her heart when she needed it most.
The story touched the deep of my emotions in a surprising way.
文法句型
the deep of [something]
用法筆記
Typically follows the pattern 'the deep of + noun phrase'. Common collocates include 'winter', 'night', 'heart', 'forest', and 'soul'. This sense is less common in modern spoken English than the related adjective and adverb forms.
常見錯誤
deep — adjective
- deeppositive
- deepercomparative
- deepestsuperlative
1. if something is deep, its bottom is far below its top or surface — used for hole
if something is deep, its bottom is far below its top or surface — used for holes, bodies of water, valleys, and similar features that reach far beneath their opening
The lake near Jisoo's village is too deep for swimming in summer.
deep + body of water (lake, river, sea)
Hugo fell into a deep hole and had to wait for help to arrive.
deep + hole / pit / well
This old well is over ten metres deep, so be careful near the edge.
Children should not swim in the deep end of the pool without an adult.
- bottomless
suggests no visible bottom, often used poetically or for exaggeration
- yawning
formal or literary, describes a wide, deep opening like a crack or chasm
- shallow
having only a small distance from top to bottom
用法筆記
Commonly used with a number to state exact depth: 'two metres deep', 'six feet deep'. The opposite is shallow.
常見錯誤
2. measuring a significant amount between its front side and its back side — used f
measuring a significant amount between its front side and its back side — used for shelves, cupboards, rooms, stages, and cuts that go well under the skin
Arjun's bookshelf is sixty centimetres deep and holds two rows of books.
number + unit + deep (horizontal measurement)
The cupboard is very deep, so we can store large pots and pans inside.
The stage was not deep enough for the whole dance group to perform.
Nellie's wound was surprisingly deep and needed several stitches at the clinic.
- wide
focuses on horizontal distance but does not specify front-to-back direction
- shallow
having little distance from front to back; also used for wounds
用法筆記
Often used with measurements: 'the shelf is 40 cm deep'. For wounds, deep refers to how far the cut goes below the skin surface.
3. located a long way from the outer edge or boundary of an area, or situated near
located a long way from the outer edge or boundary of an area, or situated near the centre of a space
Zuri got lost deep in the forest and found her way back using her phone.
deep + in + location (forest, jungle, cave)
The abandoned mine is deep inside the mountain and very hard to reach.
Deep space missions take years to reach planets beyond our solar system.
Kasia stood deep in the crowd and could not see the stage at all.
用法筆記
Frequently followed by 'in' or 'inside' to specify the area: 'deep in the jungle', 'deep inside the cave'. Not used for sports-field positions — that sense is covered separately.
4. felt or experienced with great intensity, strength, or seriousness — used for em
felt or experienced with great intensity, strength, or seriousness — used for emotions, beliefs, states like sleep, or personal connections
Harper felt deep sadness after her grandmother passed away last winter.
deep + emotion (sadness, love, concern, fear)
The family has a deep respect for the traditions of their ancestors.
Tariq was in a deep sleep and did not hear his alarm clock ring.
Ife expressed deep concern about the rising cost of living in the city.
- shallow
lacking depth of feeling or seriousness
- superficial
not thorough or sincere
用法筆記
Commonly modifies abstract nouns for emotions (love, sadness, respect, concern) and states (sleep, trouble). Frequently used in formal or serious contexts. Distinguish from the 'fully involved' sense (sense 9) which describes active participation in an activity rather than the intensity of a feeling.
常見錯誤
5. used for describing a sound or voice that is low in pitch, such as a man's deep
used for describing a sound or voice that is low in pitch, such as a man's deep voice or the bass notes of a cello — opposite of high-pitched
Cyrus has a deep voice that sounds great when he sings in the choir.
deep voice (common collocation for pitch)
The deep notes of the cello filled the concert hall with a warm sound.
Ignacio heard a deep rumble coming from inside the old factory walls.
The speaker produced a surprisingly deep bass tone for such a small box.
- high
having a high pitch
- high-pitched
having a high, thin sound
用法筆記
The opposite is high or high-pitched. Deep describes both musical notes (bass instruments) and non-musical sounds (thunder, engine noise).
6. showing serious thought, requiring careful study, or dealing with important, com
showing serious thought, requiring careful study, or dealing with important, complicated ideas — used for conversations, books, questions, and people who think thoroughly
Jisoo and Ayana had a deep conversation about the meaning of happiness.
deep + conversation / discussion / talk
The professor asked a deep question that made the whole class stop and think.
This novel is quite deep for a beginner reader because it explores difficult themes.
Indra is known as a deep thinker who always looks beyond the surface of things.
- profound
more formal, suggests great intellectual or spiritual importance
- thoughtful
focuses on the careful thinking involved, not necessarily on complexity
- complex
emphasises many parts or layers; does not necessarily imply importance
- shallow
not serious or thoughtful
- superficial
only dealing with obvious aspects
- simple
easy to understand
用法筆記
Can describe both the content itself ('a deep book') and a person's intellectual style ('a deep thinker'). Not usually used for academic subjects themselves — say 'advanced physics' rather than 'deep physics'.
常見錯誤
7. describes a fielding position in baseball or cricket that is far from the batter
describes a fielding position in baseball or cricket that is far from the batter and close to the edge of the field
Jabari moved to a deep position near the boundary before the bowler began his run.
deep + noun for fielding position
The batter hit the ball deep into the outfield, and the runners advanced quickly.
Lakan was fielding at deep mid-wicket when the catch came his way.
Sivan chased the ball across deep centre field and threw it back to the infield.
- shallow
used in cricket and baseball for positions close to the batter
文法句型
deep + noun (fielding position)
用法筆記
Typically used before nouns that name specific fielding positions in baseball, cricket, and similar sports.
常見錯誤
8. describes a colour that is dark and rich, not light or pale
describes a colour that is dark and rich, not light or pale
Lakshmi painted her bedroom walls a deep blue that reminded her of the ocean.
deep + colour as adjective before noun
Nora chose a deep green scarf to match her winter coat.
The leaves on the maple tree turned a deep red in late October.
Lara wore a deep purple dress to the wedding reception.
文法句型
deep + colour
用法筆記
Commonly pairs with colour names such as blue, red, green, purple, and orange. Cannot be used with inherently light colours like 'white' or 'yellow' without sounding unnatural.
常見錯誤
9. giving all your attention to an activity or mental state, so that you do not not
giving all your attention to an activity or mental state, so that you do not notice what is happening around you
Christopher was deep in thought and did not hear the phone ringing beside him.
deep in thought (common fixed phrase)
Tariq and Faisal were deep in conversation about the upcoming elections.
deep in conversation
The baby fell into a deep sleep after the long car ride home.
Erik was deep in his book and did not notice the rain starting outside.
Antonia found herself deep in a difficult discussion about the company's future.
- distracted
describes a lack of focus or attention
- unaware
being in a state of not noticing — opposite in result but different in structure
文法句型
deep in + noun/noun phrase
用法筆記
Distinguish from the emotion sense (adj/4): this sense describes the person's state of attention, not the intensity of a feeling. 'Deep in thought' means absorbed in thinking; 'deep love' means strongly felt emotion.
常見錯誤
deep — adverb
1. at a great distance beneath the surface or inside an object, such as the ground,
at a great distance beneath the surface or inside an object, such as the ground, water, or another material; far below or far inside a physical space.
The rescue team found the divers deep under the water near the shipwreck.
collocation: deep under [surface]
Mathieu dug deep into the earth to plant a new tree in his garden.
collocation: dig deep into
The roots of the old oak tree grew deep beneath the soil.
Aylin cut deep into the clay while shaping a bowl on her pottery wheel.
The submarine can travel deep below the ocean surface for months at a time.
- far down
more literal and explicit; used in instructional or technical contexts
- shallow
rare as an adverb; usually appears in phrase 'too shallow' or 'near the surface'
文法句型
deep + preposition (under/below/beneath/into)
verb + deep + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Do not confuse with 'deeply', which is used before adjectives and past participles (e.g., 'deeply worried', 'deeply moved'). 'Deep' as an adverb comes after the verb and before a prepositional phrase of location.
常見錯誤
2. in team ball sports, positioned in the defensive half of the field near the area
in team ball sports, positioned in the defensive half of the field near the area you are protecting, rather than in the middle of the pitch.
The coach told the defender to play deep and protect the goal.
collocation: play deep (defensive position)
Ramón stayed deep in his own half during the entire second half.
In rugby, the full-back usually stays deep to catch any long kicks from the other team.
The team's strategy was to keep three players deep near their own goal.
Pedro dropped deep into midfield to receive the ball from his goalkeeper.
- far back
less technical; used in casual sports discussion
文法句型
play/stay/drop + deep
keep + [player] + deep
用法筆記
The opposite in sports is 'high' or 'forward', which means positioned closer to the opponent's goal. This sense is most common in British football commentary.
3. far into a period of time; continuing until an advanced or late stage of an even
far into a period of time; continuing until an advanced or late stage of an event, night, season, or other time frame.
The town council meeting ran deep into the night, ending just before midnight.
collocation: run deep into the night
Shanti continued studying deep into the evening before her final chemistry exam.
pattern: continue [verb]ing deep into [time period]
The wedding guests danced and sang deep into the early morning hours at the hotel.
Kasia worked deep into the winter nights on her PhD research paper.
The music festival in the park lasted deep into the following week.
- early
at the beginning of a time period rather than deep within it
文法句型
deep into + [time period]
[verb] + deep into + [time period]
用法筆記
Almost always followed by 'into' and a noun phrase naming a time period. 'Deep' cannot be used alone to mean 'late' — you must specify what the late stage is (e.g., 'deep into the night', NOT 'deep at night').