Deep vs. Shallow — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 11, 2024
Deep indicates significant depth or intensity, while shallow refers to minimal depth or superficiality.
Difference Between Deep and Shallow
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Deep is used to describe something that extends far below the surface or towards the bottom, or to characterize profoundness in terms of ideas, feelings, or qualities. Shallow, on the other hand, describes areas with little depth, or it can refer to lacking depth of character, understanding, or seriousness.
Deep conveys a sense of substantiality or complexity, whether speaking of physical spaces like oceans and holes, or abstract concepts like emotions and thoughts. Shallow, conversely, suggests something is not far-reaching or comprehensive, applicable to both physical spaces and intellectual or emotional engagements.
In physical contexts, deep refers to the measurement from the surface down to the bottom of something, implying a greater distance and often associated with a capacity for holding or containing more. Shallow implies a short distance from the surface to the bottom, often highlighting a lack of capacity or breadth.
Discussing ideas, feelings, or relationships, deep often implies a significant, thoughtful, or intense nature, suggesting thoroughness and complexity. Shallow in such contexts usually denotes a lack of depth or complexity, suggesting superficiality or a cursory level of engagement.
Understanding the distinction between deep and shallow enhances communication, particularly in conveying the extent of physical depths or the complexity of thoughts, emotions, and relationships. Deep involves substantial depth and intensity, while shallow points to minimal depth and superficiality.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Extending far below the surface; profound.
Minimal depth; superficial.
Context
Physical spaces, emotions, ideas.
Physical spaces, character, understanding.
Implications
Complexity, intensity, capacity.
Lack of complexity, superficiality, limited capacity.
Examples
Deep ocean, deep love, deep conversation.
Shallow pond, shallow breathing, shallow analysis.
Usage
Describes significant depth or profoundness.
Describes minimal depth or superficial aspects.
Compare with Definitions
Deep
Extending far below the surface or highly profound.
The deep canyon offered breathtaking views and a sense of mystery.
Shallow
Having little depth; lacking depth of character or understanding.
The shallow end of the pool is safe for young children.
Deep
Engages with concepts or elements on a substantial level.
The novel's deep themes of love and loss resonated with readers.
Shallow
Often involves a cursory or surface-level engagement.
Their conversation remained shallow, avoiding any serious topics.
Deep
Suggests complexity and thoroughness.
They shared a deep bond that was evident to all who knew them.
Shallow
Reflects a lack of depth or superficial engagement.
His analysis of the novel was criticized for being too shallow.
Deep
Indicates significant depth or intensity.
Her deep understanding of the subject impressed everyone.
Shallow
Can imply a need for further exploration or understanding.
After the shallow first draft, the writer added layers of meaning to the story.
Deep
Often associated with growth or increased capacity.
Over the years, his appreciation for art became much deeper.
Shallow
Highlights the need for greater depth or complexity.
The debate was frustratingly shallow, with no real issues discussed.
Deep
Extending far down from the top or surface
The lake was deep and cold
A deep gorge
Shallow
Measuring little from bottom to top or surface; lacking physical depth.
Deep
Very intense or extreme
She was in deep trouble
A deep sleep
Shallow
Lacking depth of intellect, emotion, or knowledge
"This is a shallow parody of America" (Lloyd Rose).
Deep
(of sound) low in pitch and full in tone; not shrill
A deep, resonant voice
Shallow
Marked by insufficient inhalation of air; weak
Shallow respirations.
Deep
(of colour) dark and intense
A deep pink
Shallow
In the part of a playing area that is closer to home plate
Shallow left field.
Deep
The sea
Denizens of the deep
Shallow
Often shallows A part of a body of water of little depth; a shoal
Abandoned the boat in the shallows.
Deep
The part of the field distant from the batsman.
Shallow
To make or become shallow.
Deep
Far down or in; deeply
He travelled deep into the forest
Shallow
Having little depth; significantly less deep than wide.
This crater is relatively shallow.
Saute the onions in a shallow pan.
Deep
Extending far downward below a surface
A deep hole in the river ice.
Shallow
Extending not far downward.
The water is shallow here.
Deep
Extending far inward from an outer surface
A deep cut.
Shallow
Concerned mainly with superficial matters.
It was a glamorous but shallow lifestyle.
Deep
Extending far backward from front to rear
A deep walk-in refrigerator.
Shallow
Lacking interest or substance.
The acting is good, but the characters are shallow.
Deep
Extending far from side to side from a center
A deep yard surrounding the house.
Shallow
Not intellectually deep; not penetrating deeply; simple; not wise or knowing.
Shallow learning
Deep
Far distant down or in
Deep in the woods.
Shallow
(obsolete) Not deep in tone.
Deep
Coming from or penetrating to a depth
A deep sigh.
Shallow
(tennis) Not far forward, close to the net.
Deep
(Sports) Located or taking place near the outer boundaries of the area of play
Deep left field.
Shallow
(angles) Not steep; close to horizontal.
A shallow climb; a shallow descent; a shallow bank angle
Deep
Extending a specific distance in a given direction
Snow four feet deep.
Shallow
A shallow portion of an otherwise deep body of water.
The ship ran aground in an unexpected shallow.
Deep
Far distant in time or space
Deep in the past.
Shallow
A fish, the rudd.
Deep
Difficult to penetrate or understand; recondite
A deep metaphysical theory.
Shallow
(historical) A costermonger's barrow.
Deep
Of a mysterious or obscure nature
A deep secret.
Ancient and deep tribal rites.
Shallow
(ambitransitive) To make or become less deep.
Deep
Very learned or intellectual; wise
A deep philosopher.
Shallow
Not deep; having little depth; shoal.
Deep
Exhibiting great cunning or craft
Deep political machinations.
Shallow
Not deep in tone.
The sound perfecter and not so shallow and jarring.
Deep
Of a grave or extreme nature
Deep trouble.
Deepest deceit.
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.
Deep
Very absorbed or involved
Deep in thought.
Deep in financial difficulties.
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.
Deep
Profound in quality or feeling
A deep trance.
Deep devotion.
Shallow
The rudd.
Deep
Rich and intense in shade. Used of a color
A deep red.
Shallow
To make shallow.
Deep
Low in pitch; resonant
A deep voice.
Shallow
To become shallow, as water.
Deep
Covered or surrounded to a designated degree. Often used in combination
Waist-deep in the water.
Ankle-deep in snow.
Shallow
A stretch of shallow water
Deep
Large in quantity or size; big
Deep cuts in the budget.
Shallow
Make shallow;
The silt shallowed the canal
Deep
(Sports) Having a sufficient number of capable reserve players
That team is not very deep.
Shallow
Become shallow;
The lake shallowed over time
Deep
To a great depth; deeply
Dig deep.
Feelings that run deep.
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
Deep
Well along in time; late
Worked deep into the night.
Shallow
Not deep or strong; not affecting one deeply;
Shallow breathing
A night of shallow fretful sleep
In a shallow trance
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.
Shallow
Lacking depth of intellect or knowledge; concerned only with what is obvious;
Shallow people
His arguments seemed shallow and tedious
Deep
A deep place in land or in a body of water
Drowned in the deep of the river.
Deep
A vast, immeasurable extent
The deep of outer space.
Deep
The extent of encompassing time or space; firmament.
Deep
The most intense or extreme part
The deep of night.
Deep
The ocean.
Deep
(Nautical) A sounding that falls between marks on a lead line and thus corresponds to an estimated depth rather than a precise depth.
Deep
Extending far away from a point of reference, especially downwards.
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.
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.
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.
Deep
In a (specified) number of rows or layers.
A crowd three deep along the funeral procession
Deep
Thick.
That cyclist's deep chest allows him to draw more air.
Deep
Voluminous.
To take a deep breath / sigh / drink
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.
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
Why is shallow water dangerous for diving?
Diving into shallow water is dangerous because it lacks the necessary depth to safely absorb the diver's impact, increasing the risk of injury.
What is the significance of deep breathing?
Deep breathing is important for relaxation and stress reduction, as it helps increase oxygen flow and can lead to a calmer state of mind.
Can deep analysis be applied to simple concepts?
Yes, even simple concepts can be subject to deep analysis, revealing underlying complexities or broader implications.
What makes a piece of art considered deep?
Art is considered deep when it conveys profound themes, emotions, or insights, often allowing for multiple interpretations and eliciting strong responses from its audience.
How can one develop a deeper understanding of a subject?
Developing a deeper understanding involves thorough research, critical thinking, and engaging with the subject on multiple levels over time.
Can something be both deep and shallow?
Contextually, yes. A pool can have both deep and shallow ends, or a person's knowledge can be deep in one area but shallow in another.
How do depth and shallowness affect learning?
Deep learning, involving understanding and application of concepts, leads to better retention and comprehension, while shallow learning, focused on memorization, may limit long-term understanding.
What distinguishes deep work from shallow work?
Deep work involves focused, uninterrupted tasks that require high cognitive effort and produce valuable outcomes, whereas shallow work consists of more logistical, low-effort tasks.
How does the depth of a relationship affect its quality?
A deep relationship, characterized by profound understanding and emotional connection, typically indicates higher quality and satisfaction than a shallow one.
Why is being shallow often viewed negatively?
Being shallow is viewed negatively because it suggests a lack of depth, insight, or sincerity, which can limit personal growth and meaningful connections.
What is the importance of depth in personal growth?
Depth is crucial for personal growth as it encourages introspection, learning, and the development of a nuanced understanding of oneself and the world.
Can the depth of a conversation change its impact?
Yes, the depth of a conversation can significantly affect its impact, with deeper discussions likely to be more meaningful and memorable.
Is it possible to make a shallow topic deep?
Yes, exploring a shallow topic in greater detail or from new perspectives can reveal deeper insights and make it more complex and engaging.
How can one shift from shallow to deep thinking?
Shifting from shallow to deep thinking involves practicing mindfulness, engaging critically with information, asking probing questions, and seeking to understand underlying principles.
What role does depth play in storytelling?
Depth in storytelling enriches narratives, providing layers of meaning, character development, and thematic complexity, enhancing the audience's engagement and emotional investment.
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Written 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.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
