What is depress? Pronunciation and usage in English

depress means . Learn how to pronounce and use depress through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of depress

depressverb

/dɪˈprɛs/
Definition & pronunciation of depress

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "depress." It can be tricky! Here's a breakdown:

1. The Core Sound:

  • "de-": This part sounds like "dee" – as in "deep."
  • "press": This is where it gets a little more complex. It’s not like the word "press" as in "press buttons."

2. Breaking Down "Press":

  • "pre-": This part is almost like "pray" – emphasis on the "p" and a quick, slightly breathy sound.
  • "ess": This is a short, clipped "ess" sound, almost like you're saying "e" very quickly.

3. Putting It Together:

When you combine them, it sounds like: "dee-pree-sess"

Here's a more detailed guide focusing on the nuances:

  • Emphasis: The primary stress is on the first syllable – "de-".
  • “pre” sound: This is key. Don't over-emphasize it like in "press buttons." It’s a quick, almost anticipatory “p” sound.
  • "ess" sound: Keep it short and clipped. Don't let it linger.

Resources to Help You Hear It:

Tips for Practice:

  1. Slow it down: Say each syllable individually ("dee," "pree," "sess").
  2. Record yourself: Listen back to see how you sound and compare it to the audio examples.
  3. Practice with sentences: "The medication helped to depress my symptoms."

Would you like me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation for you?
  • Give you some more example sentences to practice with?

Usage and examples with the word depress in English

Let's break down how to use the word "depress" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with several distinct meanings and usages. Here's a detailed explanation:

1. As a Verb (To Make Someone Feel Sad or Low)

  • Meaning: To cause someone to feel sad, unhappy, or low in mood.
  • Examples:
    • "The rainy weather can depress my mood." (The weather is causing sadness.)
    • "His job loss really depressed him." (The loss of his job made him feel sad and down.)
    • "Don't let negative news depress you. Focus on the positive." (Prevent yourself from feeling sad.)
    • “The movie was so sad that it depressed me for the whole day.”

2. As a Verb (To Lower or Reduce Something)

  • Meaning: To reduce the pressure, force, or level of something. This is a more technical usage.
  • Examples:
    • “The new regulations will depress the price of the product.” (The regulations will lower the price.)
    • "The change in interest rates will depress the housing market." (The rates will reduce the demand and thus lower the market value.)
    • “The company’s profits were depressed due to the recession.” (The profits were reduced.)

3. As an Adjective (Describing a State of Sadness, Low Spirits, or a Low Pressure)

  • Meaning: Feeling sad, unhappy, or low in mood; also, characterized by low pressure or force.
  • Examples:
    • "She has a depressive mood today." (She’s feeling sad and low.)
    • "The depressive atmosphere in the office made it difficult to concentrate." (The atmosphere was gloomy and discouraging.)
    • "Low blood pressure can be depressive." (Low pressure is a characteristic state.)

Important Nuances and Related Words:

  • Depression: Crucially, “depress” is different from “depression.” Depression is a serious mental health condition – a diagnosable illness. “Depress” refers to the feeling or the action of causing that feeling. You wouldn't say someone has depression (usually). You would say they are experiencing depression.

  • Related Words:

    • Depressed: The adjective form (as in “depressed mood”).
    • Depressing: An adjective that describes something that causes sadness or depression (e.g., "a depressing movie").
    • Lift (someone’s spirits): The opposite of "depress."
    • Cheer (someone up): Another opposite action.

Here's a table summarizing the usage:

Part of Speech Meaning Example
Verb To make sad "His news depressed me."
Verb To reduce (pressure, price, etc.) "The tax increase will depress sales."
Adjective Feeling sad, low in mood "She has a depressive attitude."

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What context are you trying to use "depress" in? (e.g., a conversation about feelings, a discussion about economics, etc.)

Synonyms for the word depress

Practice with vocabulary depress

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. High unemployment rates can seriously ______ consumer spending.
  2. The constant rejection began to ______ her spirits and productivity.
  3. The somber atmosphere at the meeting seemed to ______ everyone's mood, making decisions difficult.
  4. Despite initial concerns, the heavy rainfall did not ______ the plants' growth, but rather encouraged it.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (There may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. Which of the following might cause a person to feel extremely low and demotivated over a prolonged period? a) A significant personal loss b) Prolonged financial hardship c) A major professional setback d) Receiving an unexpected bonus

  2. Factors that could ______ economic growth in the upcoming quarter include: a) Increased government spending b) Rising inflation c) A decline in consumer confidence d) Stable interest rates

  3. To effectively operate the emergency shut-off mechanism, you must first ______ the red button firmly. a) elevate b) activate c) press d) depress

  4. Which word best describes the action of making something less intense or severe, such as the impact of a crisis? a) Amplify b) Mitigate c) Exacerbate d) Alleviate

  5. When faced with a complex logistical problem, it is important to first ______ the situation thoroughly before proposing solutions. a) analyze b) ignore c) simplify d) evaluate

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The unexpected drop in sales caused a feeling of gloom among the employees. (Rewrite using "depress" or a related word form.)
  2. The government's new policies are expected to slow down the rate of inflation. (Rewrite using "depress" or a related word form.)
  3. Her constant complaining made everyone feel uncomfortable during the team meeting. (Rewrite without using "depress" or a related word form.)

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. depress
  2. depress
  3. dampen
  4. hinder

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. a) A significant personal loss, b) Prolonged financial hardship, c) A major professional setback
  2. b) Rising inflation, c) A decline in consumer confidence
  3. c) press, d) depress
  4. b) Mitigate, d) Alleviate
  5. a) analyze, d) evaluate

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The unexpected drop in sales began to depress the employees.
  2. The government's new policies are expected to depress the rate of inflation.
  3. Her constant complaining irritated everyone during the team meeting.

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