Words / B1

di-PRES/dɪˈpres/

To depress can mean to make someone very sad, or to push a level down: depress demand; depress a button. Depression is the noun. Sad is everyday for mood. Do not diagnose a classmate as depressed in an essay without care — use the economic sense in business papers. Rates may depress high-street spending.

Meaning

To make someone very sad; also to reduce the level of something (prices, demand).

Examples

• “Higher rates may depress spending in the high street.”
• “The news depressed her, which is the mood sense — keep it careful in exams.”

Good to know

depress demand / prices / a lever. Mood: make sad. Noun: depression. Business papers often use the “push down” sense. Button: depress = press.

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