deeply

deeply — adverb

1. used before adjectives or past participles to mean 'very much' or 'very strongly

1.adverbB1
Definition

used before adjectives or past participles to mean 'very much' or 'very strongly' — for example, when someone is deeply worried, deeply hurt, or deeply devoted to a person or cause.

Example

Sirin was deeply moved by the farewell letter from her students.

deeply + past participle: moved, touched, affected

The community felt deeply worried about the rising floodwaters near their homes.

Common collocations
  • deeply moved
  • deeply concerned
  • deeply grateful
  • deeply committed
  • deeply regretted
  • deeply divided
  • deeply rooted
  • deeply sorry
Synonyms
  • strongly

    broader; works with opinions, beliefs, and physical force ('strongly disagree'), while deeply is more emotional

  • profoundly

    more formal and literary; suggests a permanent or life-changing effect ('profoundly affected by the tragedy')

  • greatly

    covers both concrete and abstract matters ('greatly improved'); less emotional weight than deeply

Antonyms
  • slightly

    opposite degree of intensity; 'slightly worried' vs. 'deeply worried'

  • superficially

    opposite in emotional depth; suggests a surface-level reaction rather than deep feeling

Grammar Patterns

deeply + adjective (e.g. deeply worried, deeply grateful)

deeply + past participle (e.g. deeply moved, deeply committed)

deeply + verb (e.g. deeply regret, deeply care)

Usage Note

Most often used before adjectives (deeply grateful, deeply suspicious) and past participles used as adjectives (deeply concerned, deeply rooted). In everyday English, it is less common as a direct verb modifier — 'I deeply regret' is acceptable but somewhat formal.

Common Mistakes

I was deep moved by the film.
I was deeply moved by the film.
'deep' is an adjective; add the -ly ending to form the adverb that modifies the participle.

2. going a long way down from the top or outer layer — for instance, when a shovel

2.adverbB1
Definition

going a long way down from the top or outer layer — for instance, when a shovel cuts deep into the ground, an anchor sinks into soft mud, or when you take a full breath of air into your lungs.

Example

The gardener dug deeply into the soil to plant the young tree.

deeply + verb of physical action: dig, sink, bury, plunge

Salma breathed deeply before stepping onto the stage to sing.

Common collocations
  • dig deeply
  • sink deeply
  • breathe deeply
  • buried deeply
  • pushed deeply into
  • cut deeply into
Synonyms
  • far down

    more literal and descriptive; used as a phrase rather than a single adverb ('pushed it far down')

  • deep

    informal alternative used after certain verbs ('dig deep', 'cut deep'); less common in formal writing

Antonyms
  • shallowly

    direct opposite; 'dig shallowly' means staying near the surface

Grammar Patterns

deeply + verb of physical action (e.g. dig deeply, sink deeply, breathe deeply)

deeply into + noun phrase (e.g. deeply into the ground, deeply into the water)

Usage Note

Pairs most naturally with verbs of penetration or downward movement (dig, sink, bury, push, plunge, cut). The collocation 'breathe deeply' is the most frequent everyday use of this sense and sits between literal and figurative meaning.

Common Mistakes

The roots go deep into the soil.
The roots go deeply into the soil.
Informally, 'deep' is used as an adverb after 'go', but 'deeply' is the standard adverb form in most other contexts.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Deeply, strongly, profoundly, greatly, and extremely all describe a high degree of something, but they differ in scope and emotional weight. Deeply suggests emotional penetration — use it when feelings run deep, as in 'deeply hurt' or 'deeply moved.' Strongly focuses on force or conviction and works best with opinions and resistance ('strongly believe,' 'strongly oppose'). Profoundly is more formal and implies a thorough, often life-changing effect ('profoundly affected by the experience'). Greatly is broader and works with both concrete and abstract changes ('greatly improved,' 'greatly appreciate'). Extremely is the most general intensifier, used across all contexts but lacking emotional specificity. For emotional depth, choose deeply; for opinions, strongly; for lasting impact, profoundly.

deeply ↗strongly ↗profoundly ↗greatly ↗extremely ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • very deeply
  • quite deeply
  • so deeply
  • most deeply

Phrases

  • deeply rooted in
  • deeply involved in
  • deeply committed to

Prepositions

  • deeply into
  • deeply within

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

Deeply comes from Old English dēoplic, meaning 'profound' or 'serious,' formed from the adjective dēop (deep) plus the adverbial suffix -lic(e). The word originally described physical depth — going far down into water or earth — and by Middle English had extended to emotional and figurative intensity, such as loving or regretting 'deeply.'