Deep vs. Shallow: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Deep refers to something extending far down from the top or surface, while Shallow indicates a small distance between the surface and the bottom.
Key Differences
Deep often implies a significant or profound extent, either physically or metaphorically, suggesting a considerable distance from the surface to the bottom. Shallow, in contrast, denotes a lack of depth, either physically, as in a shallow pool where the water isn’t deep, or metaphorically, as in a shallow argument that lacks complexity or thoroughness.
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Nov 28, 2023
In emotional or intellectual contexts, deep signifies substantial, meaningful, or intense qualities, like deep feelings or deep thoughts. Shallow, conversely, suggests superficiality or lack of serious thought, as in shallow emotions that are fleeting or a shallow person who lacks depth in character or understanding.
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Nov 28, 2023
When describing physical spaces, deep can refer to something extending far below the surface, like a deep cave or a deep ocean trench. Shallow, on the other hand, describes areas where the distance to the bottom is minimal, such as a shallow pond or a coastal area with shallow waters.
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In terms of perception and understanding, deep often implies a comprehensive and thorough grasp of a subject, like having deep knowledge or understanding. Shallow, in contrast, implies a limited or cursory understanding, as in shallow comprehension of a complex topic.
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Nov 28, 2023
When applied to physical attributes, deep can describe something with a large volume or dimension, like a deep voice or a deep breath. Shallow, in this context, often refers to a lack of volume or dimension, like a shallow breath that is quick and lacks depth.
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Nov 28, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Physical Depth
Extends far down from the surface
Small distance from the surface to the bottom
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Intellectual Capacity
Comprehensive, thorough understanding
Limited, cursory understanding
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Nature of Discussion
Complex, nuanced arguments
Simple, one-dimensional arguments
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Deep and Shallow Definitions
Shallow
Lacking depth of intellect or knowledge
His shallow understanding of the subject was evident.
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Shallow
Measuring little from bottom to top or surface; lacking physical depth.
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Oct 19, 2023
Shallow
Lacking depth of intellect, emotion, or knowledge
"This is a shallow parody of America" (Lloyd Rose).
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Oct 19, 2023
Shallow
Marked by insufficient inhalation of air; weak
Shallow respirations.
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Oct 19, 2023
Shallow
In the part of a playing area that is closer to home plate
Shallow left field.
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Oct 19, 2023
Deep
Extending far from side to side from a center
A deep yard surrounding the house.
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Oct 19, 2023
Shallow
Often shallows A part of a body of water of little depth; a shoal
Abandoned the boat in the shallows.
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Oct 19, 2023
Shallow
Having little depth; significantly less deep than wide.
This crater is relatively shallow.
Saute the onions in a shallow pan.
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Oct 19, 2023
Deep
(Sports) Located or taking place near the outer boundaries of the area of play
Deep left field.
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Deep
Extending a specific distance in a given direction
Snow four feet deep.
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Shallow
Concerned mainly with superficial matters.
It was a glamorous but shallow lifestyle.
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Oct 19, 2023
Shallow
Lacking interest or substance.
The acting is good, but the characters are shallow.
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Oct 19, 2023
Deep
Difficult to penetrate or understand; recondite
A deep metaphysical theory.
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Oct 19, 2023
Shallow
Not intellectually deep; not penetrating deeply; simple; not wise or knowing.
Shallow learning
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Deep
Of a mysterious or obscure nature
A deep secret.
Ancient and deep tribal rites.
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Shallow
(angles) Not steep; close to horizontal.
A shallow climb; a shallow descent; a shallow bank angle
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Shallow
A shallow portion of an otherwise deep body of water.
The ship ran aground in an unexpected shallow.
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Deep
Very absorbed or involved
Deep in thought.
Deep in financial difficulties.
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Deep
Covered or surrounded to a designated degree. Often used in combination
Waist-deep in the water.
Ankle-deep in snow.
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Shallow
Not deep in tone.
The sound perfecter and not so shallow and jarring.
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Oct 19, 2023
Shallow
Not intellectually deep; not profound; not penetrating deeply; simple; not wise or knowing; ignorant; superficial; as, a shallow mind; shallow learning.
The king was neither so shallow, nor so ill advertised, as not to perceive the intention of the French king.
Deep versed in books, and shallow in himself.
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Deep
(Sports) Having a sufficient number of capable reserve players
That team is not very deep.
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Shallow
A place in a body of water where the water is not deep; a shoal; a flat; a shelf.
A swift stream is not heard in the channel, but upon shallows of gravel.
Dashed on the shallows of the moving sand.
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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.
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Deep
A deep place in land or in a body of water
Drowned in the deep of the river.
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Shallow
Lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center;
Shallow water
A shallow dish
A shallow cut
A shallow closet
Established a shallow beachhead
Hit the ball to shallow left field
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Oct 19, 2023
Shallow
Not deep or strong; not affecting one deeply;
Shallow breathing
A night of shallow fretful sleep
In a shallow trance
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Deep
(Nautical) A sounding that falls between marks on a lead line and thus corresponds to an estimated depth rather than a precise depth.
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Shallow
Lacking depth of intellect or knowledge; concerned only with what is obvious;
Shallow people
His arguments seemed shallow and tedious
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Shallow
Concerned only with superficial things
The book was criticized for its shallow characters.
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Nov 28, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Shallow
Not exhibiting, requiring, or capable of serious thought
She gave a shallow laugh at the joke.
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Nov 28, 2023
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.
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Deep
In a (specified) number of rows or layers.
A crowd three deep along the funeral procession
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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.
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Deep
Profound, having great meaning or import, but possibly obscure or not obvious.
That is a deep thought!
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Deep
Hard to penetrate or comprehend; profound; intricate; obscure.
A deep subject or plot
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Deep
Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial; thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning.
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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.
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Deep
(sleep) Sound, heavy (describing a state of sleep from which one is not easily awoken).
He was in a deep sleep.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Deep
(also deeply) In a profound, not superficial, manner.
I thought long and deep.
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Oct 19, 2023
Deep
(sports) Back towards one's own goal, baseline, or similar.
He's normally a midfield player, but today he's playing deep.
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Oct 19, 2023
Deep
(cricket) A fielding position near the boundary.
Russell is a safe pair of hands in the deep.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Deep
Low in situation; lying far below the general surface; as, a deep valley.
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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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Deep
Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial; thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning.
Deep clerks she dumbs.
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Deep
Profound; thorough; complete; unmixed; intense; heavy; heartfelt; as, deep distress; deep melancholy; deep horror.
An attitude of deep respect.
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Deep
Strongly colored; dark; intense; not light or thin; as, deep blue or crimson.
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Deep
Of low tone; full-toned; not high or sharp; grave; heavy.
The bass of heaven's deep organ.
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Deep
Muddy; boggy; sandy; - said of roads.
The ways in that vale were very deep.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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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.
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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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Deep
The central and most intense or profound part;
In the deep of night
In the deep of winter
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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
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Oct 19, 2023
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
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Oct 19, 2023
Deep
Very distant in time or space;
Deep in the past
Deep in enemy territory
Deep in the woods
A deep space probe
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Oct 19, 2023
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
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Oct 19, 2023
Deep
(of darkness) very intense;
Thick night
Thick darkness
A face in deep shadow
Deep night
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Oct 19, 2023
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
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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
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Oct 19, 2023
Deep
Exhibiting great cunning usually with secrecy;
Deep political machinations
A deep plot
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Oct 19, 2023
Deep
To far into space;
Penetrated deep into enemy territory
Went deep into the woods
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
How is "shallow" used metaphorically?
It implies a lack of depth or complexity in ideas or emotions.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 28, 2023
Is "deep" used in music?
Yes, for rich, resonant sounds or profound lyrics.
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Nov 28, 2023
Can "shallow" refer to physical depth?
Yes, like a pool that isn't very deep.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 28, 2023
What does "deep" mean in a physical sense?
It refers to something extending far beneath the surface.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 28, 2023
What does a "shallow" conversation mean?
It’s a discussion that lacks depth or serious content.
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Nov 28, 2023
Is "shallow breathing" a medical term?
Yes, it refers to short, inadequate breaths.
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Nov 28, 2023
How is "shallow" used in cooking?
It can refer to shallow frying, using less oil.
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Nov 28, 2023
Can "deep" describe a person's character?
Yes, it implies someone with profound thoughts or feelings.
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Nov 28, 2023
Does "shallow" have a negative connotation?
Often, especially when referring to superficiality.
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Nov 28, 2023
Is "shallow water" dangerous?
It can be, especially if underestimated for safety.
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Nov 28, 2023
Does "deep" imply seriousness?
Generally, it suggests a serious or intense approach.
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Nov 28, 2023
Can "shallow" describe a relationship?
Yes, if it lacks emotional depth or significance.
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Nov 28, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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