What does "deplete" mean?
To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something)
Deplete
/dɪˈpliːt/ verb
verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something)
- Grammar: deplete is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: consume, exhaust, ablate, absorb.
- Useful contrasts: collected results, conserved resource, dutch power.
- Usage evidence: Thirty years ago, the international community signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and began regulating ozone-depleting compounds.
How to use "deplete"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "deplete" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "deplete" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "deplete" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "deplete" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "deplete" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "consume" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "deplete", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something) transitive
"The winter storm quickly depleted the salt supply of the county."
- 2 use up (resources or materials) wordnet
- 3 To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something):; To expend or separate a reactant. transitive
- 4 To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something):; To reduce the amount of a substance with a medication or medical procedure or due to a illness. transitive
"Certain medications can deplete vitamin D."
- 5 To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something):; To use up, exhaust, or consume (power or resources). transitive
"Its reserves have been invaded and depleted."
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something):; To decrease the amount of an isotope (in a mixture of isotopes). rare, transitive
- 7 To empty or purge (something of a substance). transitive
"The conservation project depleted the lake of algae."
- 8 To empty or purge (something of a substance).; To clear a compound or solution (of a reactant). transitive
"Cycling also produces layered scales, as repeated spallation further depletes the compound of Al and allows Cr₂O₃ formation."
- 9 To empty or purge (something of a substance).; To clear a mixture of isotopes (of an isotope or isotopes). transitive
"The by-product of this process, which depletes uranium of its most radioactive isotopes, is called depleted uranium (DU)."
- 10 To diminish in quantity or strength; to be consumed. intransitive
"I noticed a couple of days ago how quickly the battery depletes."
- 11 To diminish in quantity or strength; to be consumed.; To be expended or separated (of a substance). intransitive
"As can be seen in Fig. 1.49, FS 21 rapidly depletes of Li⁺ near the surface during the exposure to a NaNO₃ melt and simultaneously enriches in Na⁺."
- 12 To diminish in quantity or strength; to be consumed.; To undergo loss of an isotope. intransitive
"Since uranium depletes in this process, it is called fissile fuel, nuclear fuel or simply fuel."
Antonyms
collected resultsconserved resourcedutch powerenergizing effect
Example
"Thirty years ago, the international community signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and began regulating ozone-depleting compounds."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "deplete"?
Common synonyms include: consume, exhaust, ablate, absorb, assimilate, atrophy.
How do you use "deplete" in a sentence?
Thirty years ago, the international community signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and began regulating ozone-depleting compounds.
How do you pronounce "deplete"?
Pronounced /dɪˈpliːt/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin dēplētus (“empty”), from depleō. First attested in 1716; originally a medical term.