Logo
dictionary thesaurus

deplete

verb
de·​plete | \ di-ˈplēt How to pronounce deplete (audio) \
depleted; depleting

Definition of deplete

transitive verb

1 : to empty of a principal substance The lake was depleted of water. depleting the country of its natural resources
2 : to lessen markedly in quantity, content, power, or value deplete our life savings their depleted resources
Other Words from deplete Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about deplete

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from deplete

depletable \ di-​ˈplē-​tə-​bəl How to pronounce depletable (audio) \ adjective
depleter \ di-​ˈplē-​tər How to pronounce depleter (audio) \ noun
depletion \ di-​ˈplē-​shən How to pronounce depletion (audio) \ noun
depletive \ di-​ˈplē-​tiv How to pronounce depletive (audio) \ adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms for deplete

Synonyms

absorb, burn, consume, devour, drain, draw down, exhaust, expend, play out, spend, use up

Antonyms

renew, replace

Visit the Thesaurus for More 

Choose the Right Synonym for deplete

deplete, drain, exhaust, impoverish, bankrupt mean to deprive of something essential to existence or potency. deplete implies a reduction in number or quantity so as to endanger the ability to function. depleting our natural resources drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence. personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit exhaust stresses a complete emptying. her lecture exhausted the subject impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness. impoverished soil bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse. war had bankrupted the nation of resources

Did You Know?

The de- prefix often means "do the opposite of", so deplete means the opposite of "fill". Thus, for example, a kitchen's food supplies can be rapidly depleted by hungry teenagers. But deplete often suggests something more serious. Desertions can deplete an army; layoffs can deplete an office staff; and too much time in bed can rapidly deplete your muscular strength.

Examples of deplete in a Sentence

Activities such as logging and mining deplete our natural resources. We completely depleted our life savings when we bought our new house.

Recent Examples on the Web

 Summer crops use a lot of nitrogen in pushing out all that fruit, so the beds will be depleted. — Joan Morris, The Mercury News, "Bay Area gardening: Saying goodbye to summer," 8 Aug. 2019 In the wake of the World Cup, forward Christen Press, a Stanford alum, said she was depleted. — SFChronicle.com, "After World Cup win, the fun continues for U.S. women’s team," 3 Aug. 2019 The workouts are held to evaluate options in case a team's depth chart is depleted by injuries or other concerns. — Joel A. Erickson, Indianapolis Star, "Colts host Mike Gillislee, Brandon Marshall in workouts," 2 Aug. 2019 But as the outbreak spreads, some models predict the current stockpile could be depleted by the fall. — Los Angeles Times, "Why the long-awaited Ebola vaccine won’t end the Congo outbreak," 25 July 2019 That will force the program to dip into a rainy day fund that will be depleted in about 15 years. — Robert Weisman, BostonGlobe.com, "Invisible no more: Social Security will soon slide into insolvency," 20 July 2019 The difference comes from a shrinking carryover balance that will be depleted by the end of the five-year period. — Sue Kieswetter, Cincinnati.com, "Liberty Twp. 3-mill police levy won't raise taxes if passed in November," 19 July 2019 For decades, the community of about 3,000 residents -- those numbers swell in the winter and fall in the summer -- have known that the single-source aquifer beneath them was being depleted. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Borrego Air Ranch: A desert community in peril," 7 July 2019 Beede gave up eight hits and five runs in 3 2/3 innings in a start that required Bochy to deplete his long relief depth ahead of a pivotal nine-game homestand featuring series against three teams with winning records. — Kerry Crowley, The Mercury News, "Bochy’s last game at Coors Field like so many others: Disappointing and forgettable," 4 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'deplete.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of deplete

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for deplete

Latin depletus, past participle of deplēre, from de- + plēre to fill — more at full

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for deplete

deplete

verb
How to pronounce deplete (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of deplete

: to use most or all of (something important) : to greatly reduce the amount of (something)

See the full definition for deplete in the English Language Learners Dictionary

deplete

verb
de·​plete | \ di-ˈplēt How to pronounce deplete (audio) \
depleted; depleting

Kids Definition of deplete

: to reduce in amount by using up The soil was depleted of minerals.

deplete

transitive verb
de·​plete | \ di-ˈplēt

WORD OF THE DAY

simulacrum

play

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!