Deep vs. Deeply — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 2, 2024
"Deep" functions as an adjective to describe extent or profundity, whereas "deeply" is an adverb that modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating intensity or degree.
Difference Between Deep and Deeply
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Deep" is used to describe the physical depth or metaphorical depth of something, such as "a deep pool" or "deep thoughts," suggesting considerable extent or seriousness. On the other hand, "deeply" is used to modify how actions are performed or qualities are experienced, like in "deeply moved" or "deeply rooted," emphasizing the intensity of an action or state.
While "deep" can modify nouns directly, "deeply" does not modify nouns but enhances the meaning of other parts of speech.
In terms of usage, "deep" can sometimes be interchangeable with "profound," whereas "deeply" often correlates with "profoundly."
"Deep" can also serve as an adverb in certain contexts, such as "sleep deep," but this usage is less common compared to the versatile adverbial use of "deeply."
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Adjective, sometimes adverb
Adverb
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Modifies
Nouns, occasionally verbs
Verbs, adjectives, adverbs
Usage
Describes depth or intensity
Indicates intensity or manner
Example in Sentence
"The lake is deep."
"He sighed deeply."
Common Collocations
Deep water, deep space
Deeply concerned, deeply embedded
Compare with Definitions
Deep
Very intense or extreme.
She felt a deep sadness after the news.
Deeply
At or to a considerable or specified depth.
The anchor sank deeply into the sea.
Deep
Extending far down from the top or surface.
They dove into the deep end of the pool.
Deeply
With a deep or profound effect.
The tragedy affected him deeply.
Deep
Profound or penetrating in awareness or understanding.
His book offers deep insights into politics.
Deeply
Thoroughly or intensely.
She's deeply involved in volunteering.
Deep
Immersed or involved to a great depth.
He's deep into the project work.
Deeply
To a great depth of knowledge or insight.
She understands the subject deeply.
Deep
Low in pitch or tone.
He spoke in a deep voice.
Deeply
In a heartfelt or sincere manner.
He apologized deeply for his actions.
Deep
Extending far down from the top or surface
The lake was deep and cold
A deep gorge
Deeply
Deeply is a 2000 film directed by Sheri Elwood, starring Julia Brendler, Lynn Redgrave and Kirsten Dunst.
Deep
Very intense or extreme
She was in deep trouble
A deep sleep
Deeply
Extending far downward below a surface
A deep hole in the river ice.
Deep
(of sound) low in pitch and full in tone; not shrill
A deep, resonant voice
Deeply
Extending far inward from an outer surface
A deep cut.
Deep
(of colour) dark and intense
A deep pink
Deeply
Extending far backward from front to rear
A deep walk-in refrigerator.
Deep
The sea
Denizens of the deep
Deeply
Extending far from side to side from a center
A deep yard surrounding the house.
Deep
The part of the field distant from the batsman.
Deeply
Far distant down or in
Deep in the woods.
Deep
Far down or in; deeply
He travelled deep into the forest
Deeply
Coming from or penetrating to a depth
A deep sigh.
Deep
Extending far downward below a surface
A deep hole in the river ice.
Deeply
(Sports) Located or taking place near the outer boundaries of the area of play
Deep left field.
Deep
Extending far inward from an outer surface
A deep cut.
Deeply
Extending a specific distance in a given direction
Snow four feet deep.
Deep
Extending far backward from front to rear
A deep walk-in refrigerator.
Deeply
Far distant in time or space
Deep in the past.
Deep
Extending far from side to side from a center
A deep yard surrounding the house.
Deeply
Difficult to penetrate or understand; recondite
A deep metaphysical theory.
Deep
Far distant down or in
Deep in the woods.
Deeply
Of a mysterious or obscure nature
A deep secret.
Ancient and deep tribal rites.
Deep
Coming from or penetrating to a depth
A deep sigh.
Deeply
Very learned or intellectual; wise
A deep philosopher.
Deep
(Sports) Located or taking place near the outer boundaries of the area of play
Deep left field.
Deeply
Exhibiting great cunning or craft
Deep political machinations.
Deep
Extending a specific distance in a given direction
Snow four feet deep.
Deeply
Of a grave or extreme nature
Deep trouble.
Deepest deceit.
Deep
Far distant in time or space
Deep in the past.
Deeply
Very absorbed or involved
Deep in thought.
Deep in financial difficulties.
Deep
Difficult to penetrate or understand; recondite
A deep metaphysical theory.
Deeply
Profound in quality or feeling
A deep trance.
Deep devotion.
Deep
Of a mysterious or obscure nature
A deep secret.
Ancient and deep tribal rites.
Deeply
Rich and intense in shade. Used of a color
A deep red.
Deep
Very learned or intellectual; wise
A deep philosopher.
Deeply
Low in pitch; resonant
A deep voice.
Deep
Exhibiting great cunning or craft
Deep political machinations.
Deeply
Covered or surrounded to a designated degree. Often used in combination
Waist-deep in the water.
Ankle-deep in snow.
Deep
Of a grave or extreme nature
Deep trouble.
Deepest deceit.
Deeply
Large in quantity or size; big
Deep cuts in the budget.
Deep
Very absorbed or involved
Deep in thought.
Deep in financial difficulties.
Deeply
(Sports) Having a sufficient number of capable reserve players
That team is not very deep.
Deep
Profound in quality or feeling
A deep trance.
Deep devotion.
Deeply
To a great depth; deeply
Dig deep.
Feelings that run deep.
Deep
Rich and intense in shade. Used of a color
A deep red.
Deeply
Well along in time; late
Worked deep into the night.
Deep
Low in pitch; resonant
A deep voice.
Deeply
(Sports) Close to the outer boundaries of the area of play
Played deep for the first three innings.
Ran deep into their opponents' territory.
Deep
Covered or surrounded to a designated degree. Often used in combination
Waist-deep in the water.
Ankle-deep in snow.
Deeply
A deep place in land or in a body of water
Drowned in the deep of the river.
Deep
Large in quantity or size; big
Deep cuts in the budget.
Deeply
A vast, immeasurable extent
The deep of outer space.
Deep
(Sports) Having a sufficient number of capable reserve players
That team is not very deep.
Deeply
The extent of encompassing time or space; firmament.
Deep
To a great depth; deeply
Dig deep.
Feelings that run deep.
Deeply
The most intense or extreme part
The deep of night.
Deep
Well along in time; late
Worked deep into the night.
Deeply
The ocean.
Deep
(Sports) Close to the outer boundaries of the area of play
Played deep for the first three innings.
Ran deep into their opponents' territory.
Deeply
(Nautical) A sounding that falls between marks on a lead line and thus corresponds to an estimated depth rather than a precise depth.
Deep
A deep place in land or in a body of water
Drowned in the deep of the river.
Deeply
To a deep extent or degree; very greatly.
I am deeply concerned about this matter.
I deeply regret my behaviour.
Deep
A vast, immeasurable extent
The deep of outer space.
Deeply
So as to extend far down or far into something.
The surface of the planet was deeply cratered.
Deep
The extent of encompassing time or space; firmament.
Deeply
At depth.
In this part of the river salmon swim deeply.
Deep
The most intense or extreme part
The deep of night.
Deeply
In a profound, not superficial, manner.
I thought deeply about the problem.
Deep
The ocean.
Deeply
In large volume.
Breathe deeply, drink deeply
Deep
(Nautical) A sounding that falls between marks on a lead line and thus corresponds to an estimated depth rather than a precise depth.
Deeply
(in relation to sleep) Soundly; so as to be hard to rouse.
Deep
Extending far away from a point of reference, especially downwards.
Deeply
(of flavour, colour, etc.) Richly.
A deeply flavoured curry
Deep
Extending far down from the top, or surface, to the bottom, literally or figuratively.
The lake is extremely deep.
We hiked into a deep valley between tall mountains.
There was a deep layer of dust on the floor; the room had not been disturbed for many years.
In the mid-1970s, the economy went into a deep recession.
We are in deep trouble.
Deeply
At or to a great depth; far below the surface; as, to sink deeply.
Deep
Far in extent in another (non-downwards, but generally also non-upwards) direction away from a point of reference.
The shelves are 30 centimetres deep. — They are deep shelves.
Deeply
Profoundly; thoroughly; not superficially; in a high degree; intensely; as, deeply skilled in ethics.
He had deeply offended both his nobles and people.
He sighed deeply in his spirit.
Deep
(in combination) Extending to a level or length equivalent to the stated thing.
The water was waist-deep.
There is an arm-deep hole in the wall.
Deeply
Very; with a tendency to darkness of color.
The deeply red juice of buckthorn berries.
Deep
In a (specified) number of rows or layers.
A crowd three deep along the funeral procession
Deeply
Gravely; with low or deep tone; as, a deeply toned instrument.
Deep
Thick.
That cyclist's deep chest allows him to draw more air.
Deeply
With profound skill; with art or intricacy; as, a deeply laid plot or intrigue.
Deep
Voluminous.
To take a deep breath / sigh / drink
Deeply
To a great depth psychologically;
They felt the loss deeply
Deep
Positioned or reaching far, especially down through something or into something.
Diving down to deep wrecks can be dangerous.
I can't get the bullet out – it's too deep.
Deeply
To a great depth;
Dived deeply
Dug deep
Deep
Complex, involved.
Deep
Profound, having great meaning or import, but possibly obscure or not obvious.
That is a deep thought!
Deep
Significant, not superficial, in extent.
They're in deep discussion.
Deep
Hard to penetrate or comprehend; profound; intricate; obscure.
A deep subject or plot
Deep
Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial; thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning.
Deep
Low in pitch.
She has a very deep contralto voice.
Deep
(of a color or flavour) Highly saturated; rich.
That's a very deep shade of blue.
The spices impart a deep flavour to the dish.
Deep
(sleep) Sound, heavy (describing a state of sleep from which one is not easily awoken).
He was in a deep sleep.
Deep
Muddy; boggy; sandy; said of roads.
Deep
(of time) Distant in the past, ancient.
Deep time
In the deep past
Deep
Far, especially far down through something or into something, physically or figuratively.
The ogre lived in a cave deep underground.
We ventured deep into the forest.
His problems lie deep in the subconscious.
I am deep in debt.
Deep
(also deeply) In a profound, not superficial, manner.
I thought long and deep.
Deep
(also deeply) In large volume.
Breathe deep, drink deep
Deep
(sports) Back towards one's own goal, baseline, or similar.
He's normally a midfield player, but today he's playing deep.
Deep
The deep part of a lake, sea, etc.
Creatures of the deep
Deep
(with "the") The sea, the ocean.
Deep
A deep hole or pit, a water well; an abyss.
Deep
A silent time; quiet isolation.
The deep of night
Deep
(rare) A deep shade of colour.
Deep
The profound part of a problem.
Deep
(cricket) A fielding position near the boundary.
Russell is a safe pair of hands in the deep.
Deep
Extending far below the surface; of great perpendicular dimension (measured from the surface downward, and distinguished from high, which is measured upward); far to the bottom; having a certain depth; as, a deep sea.
The water where the brook is deep.
Deep
Extending far back from the front or outer part; of great horizontal dimension (measured backward from the front or nearer part, mouth, etc.); as, a deep cave or recess or wound; a gallery ten seats deep; a company of soldiers six files deep.
Shadowing squadrons deep.
Safely in harborIs the king's ship in the deep nook.
Deep
Low in situation; lying far below the general surface; as, a deep valley.
Deep
Hard to penetrate or comprehend; profound; - opposed to shallow or superficial; intricate; mysterious; not obvious; obscure; as, a deep subject or plot.
Speculations high or deep.
A question deep almost as the mystery of life.
O Lord, . . . thy thoughts are very deep.
Deep
Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial; thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning.
Deep clerks she dumbs.
Deep
Profound; thorough; complete; unmixed; intense; heavy; heartfelt; as, deep distress; deep melancholy; deep horror.
An attitude of deep respect.
Deep
Strongly colored; dark; intense; not light or thin; as, deep blue or crimson.
Deep
Of low tone; full-toned; not high or sharp; grave; heavy.
The bass of heaven's deep organ.
Deep
Muddy; boggy; sandy; - said of roads.
The ways in that vale were very deep.
Deep
To a great depth; with depth; far down; profoundly; deeply.
Deep-versed in books, and shallow in himself.
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring.
Deep
That which is deep, especially deep water, as the sea or ocean; an abyss; a great depth.
Courage from the deeps of knowledge springs.
The hollow deep of hell resounded.
Blue Neptune storms, the bellowing deeps resound.
Deep
That which is profound, not easily fathomed, or incomprehensible; a moral or spiritual depth or abyss.
Thy judgments are a great deep.
The deep of night is crept upon our talk.
Deep
The central and most intense or profound part;
In the deep of night
In the deep of winter
Deep
A long steep-sided depression in the ocean floor
Deep
Literary term for an ocean;
Denizens of the deep
Deep
Relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply;
A deep breath
A deep sigh
Deep concentration
Deep emotion
A deep trance
In a deep sleep
Deep
Marked by depth of thinking;
Deep thoughts
A deep allegory
Deep
Having great spatial extension or penetration downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or laterally or outward from a center; sometimes used in combination;
A deep well
A deep dive
Deep water
A deep casserole
A deep gash
Deep massage
Deep pressure receptors in muscles
Deep shelves
A deep closet
Surrounded by a deep yard
Hit the ball to deep center field
In deep space
Waist-deep
Deep
Very distant in time or space;
Deep in the past
Deep in enemy territory
Deep in the woods
A deep space probe
Deep
Extreme;
In deep trouble
Deep happiness
Deep
Having or denoting a low vocal or instrumental range;
A deep voice
A bass voice is lower than a baritone voice
A bass clarinet
Deep
Strong; intense;
Deep purple
A rich red
Deep
Relatively thick from top to bottom;
Deep carpets
Deep snow
Deep
Extending relatively far inward;
A deep border
Deep
(of darkness) very intense;
Thick night
Thick darkness
A face in deep shadow
Deep night
Deep
Large in quantity or size;
Deep cuts in the budget
Deep
With head or back bent low;
A deep bow
Deep
Of an obscure nature;
The new insurance policy is written without cryptic or mysterious terms
A deep dark secret
The inscrutible workings of Providence
In its mysterious past it encompasses all the dim origins of life
Rituals totally mystifying to visitors from other lands
Deep
Difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge;
The professor's lectures were so abstruse that students tended to avoid them
A deep metaphysical theory
Some recondite problem in historiography
Deep
Exhibiting great cunning usually with secrecy;
Deep political machinations
A deep plot
Deep
To a great depth;
Dived deeply
Dug deep
Deep
To an advanced time;
Deep into the night
Talked late into the evening
Deep
To far into space;
Penetrated deep into enemy territory
Went deep into the woods
Common Curiosities
How do I choose between 'deep' and 'deeply'?
Use 'deep' to describe nouns and sometimes verbs, and use 'deeply' when modifying how something is done, felt, or described.
Can 'deep' be used as an adverb?
Yes, in some contexts, 'deep' can function as an adverb, e.g., "sleep deep."
Is 'deeply' ever used to describe physical depth directly?
No, 'deeply' does not directly describe physical depth; it indicates the manner or intensity of an attribute or action.
What does 'deep' mean?
'Deep' is an adjective describing something that extends far down from the surface or is intense in nature.
What does 'deeply' mean?
'Deeply' is an adverb that enhances the degree or manner in which actions, sensations, or conditions are experienced.
What's the difference in emotion conveyed by 'deep' and 'deeply'?
'Deep' describes the quality or state, while 'deeply' describes the extent to which emotions or actions are felt or performed.
What are some common phrases using 'deeply'?
Phrases like "deeply moved" or "deeply rooted" are typical.
Can 'deep' and 'deeply' be interchangeable?
Not usually, as they serve different grammatical purposes.
What are some common phrases using 'deep'?
Phrases like "deep trouble" or "deep in thought" are common.
Example of 'deeply' impacting a sentence?
"She is deeply cherished"—here, 'deeply' intensifies how much she is cherished.
What is the adverb form of 'deep'?
The adverb form of 'deep' is 'deeply.'
Example of 'deep' impacting a sentence?
"He has deep understanding"—here, 'deep' describes the profound level of understanding.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
