deprive

verb

de·​prive di-ˈprīv How to pronounce deprive (audio)
deprived; depriving

transitive verb

1
: to take something away from
deprived him of his professorshipJ. M. Phalen
the risk of injury when the brain is deprived of oxygen
2
: to withhold something from
deprived a citizen of her rights
3
: to remove from office
the Archbishop … would be deprived and sent to the TowerEdith Sitwell
4
obsolete : remove
'tis honor to deprive dishonored lifeShakespeare

Examples of deprive in a Sentence

working those long hours was depriving him of his sleep a prince who had been deprived after those who opposed the monarchy came to power
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adolescents also may be chronically sleep deprived due to school, sports and social activity schedules. Beth Ann Malow, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2025 In Ukraine, the Biden administration’s timid slow rolling of weapons and ammunition deprived Ukraine of its best chance of victory, forcing it for years to fight with one hand behind its back. Jamie McIntyre, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025 The ongoing abuse and molestation deprived the children from accessing the education benefits they were entitled to as students, according to the complaint. Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2025 It is deprived not only of its capacity to act but also of its capacity to think and to judge. Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 2 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deprive

Word History

Etymology

Middle English depriven, from Anglo-French depriver, from Medieval Latin deprivare, from Latin de- + privare to deprive — more at private entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of deprive was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deprive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deprive. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

deprive

verb
de·​prive di-ˈprīv How to pronounce deprive (audio)
deprived; depriving
1
: to take something away from
deprive a ruler of power
2
: to stop from having something
deprived of sleep by street noises
deprivation
ˌdep-rə-ˈvā-shən
noun

Medical Definition

deprive

transitive verb
de·​prive di-ˈprīv How to pronounce deprive (audio)
deprived; depriving
: to take something away from and especially something that is usually considered essential for mental or physical well-being
a child deprived of emotional support
tissue deprived of oxygen

Legal Definition

deprive

transitive verb
de·​prive
deprived; depriving
: to take away or withhold something from
no person shall…be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of lawU.S. Constitution amend. V

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