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.
The current House Republican Farm Bill language would halt the progress that has been made, repeat the failures of the past, and deprive millions of struggling households of billions in food benefits. Molly Wasow Park, New York Daily News, 18 Dec. 2024 Prosecutors argued Spencer often would strategically give or withhold drugs from his victims, deprive them of sleep and food and threaten them with firearms or extreme physical violence, such as strangling them. Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 18 Dec. 2024 The Democratic senator from Massachusetts did not wait long to draw policy lessons from the heinous assassination that widowed Thompson’s spouse and deprived his two sons of a father. Matthew Continetti, National Review, 14 Dec. 2024 This classification, according to the complaint, means that contestants are inhibited from engaging in certain activities, such as collective bargaining, and deprives them of workplace protections guaranteed to employees under the National Labor Relations Act. Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near deprive

Cite this Entry

“Deprive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deprive. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on deprive

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