English edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Latin dēplētus (empty), from depleō.

Pronunciation edit

  • (US, UK) IPA(key): /dɪˈpliːt/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -iːt

Verb edit

deplete (third-person singular simple present depletes, present participle depleting, simple past and past participle depleted)

  1. (transitive, intransitive) To empty or unload, as the vessels of the human system, by bloodletting or by medicine.
    I noticed a couple of days ago how quickly the battery depletes.
    The ink depletes too quickly.
    Depending on what you print, one color usually depletes faster than the others.
    The temperature gauge doesn't work and the coolant depletes quickly from the reservoir.
    The winter storm quickly depleted the salt supply of the county.
    This drug can deplete the body of magnesium.
    Certain medications can deplete vitamin D.
  2. To reduce by destroying or consuming the vital powers of; to exhaust, as a country of its strength or resources, a treasury of money, etc.
    • 2007, John Zerzan, Silence[1]:
      Its reserves have been invaded and depleted.
    • 2022 October 25, L. J. Shrum, Elena Fumagalli, Tina M. Lowrey, “Coping with loneliness through consumption”, in Journal of Consumer Psychology, volume 33, number 2, →DOI, pages 441–465:
      Constant vigilance for social threats and the negative emotions it produces (e.g., anxiety) deplete self-regulatory resources.

Antonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

Italian edit

Adjective edit

deplete

  1. feminine plural of depleto

Latin edit

Verb edit

dēplēte

  1. second-person plural present active imperative of dēpleō