Vocabulary in context
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Deplete
To use up the supply of something; to exhaust; to empty out.
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Imagine This
Imagine a car’s fuel tank on a long trip: every mile uses fuel, and as you drive farther the tank empties until you must refuel.
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Sounds Like
dih-PLEET
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Looks Like
Looks like 'complete' with a de- prefix; shares the -plete root
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Remember This
The ozone layer is depleted by ozone-depleting substances (like CFCs). International agreements such as the Montreal Protocol aim to reduce depletion. Depletion is commonly discussed with natural resources, energy, and inventory.
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Other Forms
depletionnoun
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Connect With
exhaust, drain, diminish, consume, depletion
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Note
Deplete is transitive: you deplete something (you drain or exhaust its supply). Do not use 'deplete of'—use 'deplete X' or 'deplete X of Y' correctly. Remember the related noun 'depletion' and the opposite verbs 'replenish' or 'restore'.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The drought depleted the reservoir's water supply.
- Overfishing depleted the lake's fish stocks.
Synonyms
exhaustdrainuse upemptysap
Antonyms
replenishrestorerefill
Etymology
From Latin de- 'down, away' + plere 'to fill' (via Old French dépleter), giving the sense of removing the filling or content; related to 'replete' (full) and 'complete'.
Mnemonic
Mnemonic: De- + plete means remove the fill. Picture a full container whose contents are drained away; the more you deplete it, the emptier it becomes.
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Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Diminish
verbTo become smaller in size, amount, importance, or intensity; to reduce.
Abandon
verbTo give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
Abate
verbTo decrease in amount or intensity; to reduce or end something.
Abolish
verbTo formally end or repeal a system, practice, or institution; to officially put an end to something established.
Abridge
verbTo shorten (a text, speech, or other work) by omitting parts; to condense.
Abscond
verbTo depart secretly or flee, especially to avoid detection or arrest.
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