Phrase guide

deep water

name · noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

name

Meaning 1

A census-designated place in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Waters suitable for deep-draft ships, especially ocean-going.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A difficult or embarrassing situation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, idiomatic, uncountable

Examples

  • You will be in deep water if you are found copying work from other students.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see deep, water.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

serious trouble

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: trouble, problem

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

33 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 深水 (shēnshuǐ) — waters suitable for deep-draft ships
  • Dutch: diep water — waters suitable for deep-draft ships
  • Finnish: syvä vesi — waters suitable for deep-draft ships
  • French: eau profond — waters suitable for deep-draft ships
  • Galician: alto mar — waters suitable for deep-draft ships
  • German: tiefes Wasser — waters suitable for deep-draft ships
  • Hungarian: mély víz — waters suitable for deep-draft ships
  • Italian: alto mare — waters suitable for deep-draft ships
  • Polish: głęboka woda — waters suitable for deep-draft ships
  • Russian: глубо́кая вода́ (glubókaja vodá) — waters suitable for deep-draft ships
  • Swedish: djupt vatten — waters suitable for deep-draft ships
  • Swedish: farled — waters suitable for deep-draft ships
  • Chinese Mandarin: 水深火熱 /水深火热 (shuǐ shēn huǒ rè) — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • Dutch: in moeilijkheden — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • Finnish: pula — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • Finnish: vaikeudet — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • French: to be in deep water — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • French: profonde détresse — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • French: être dans de beaux draps — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • Galician: enfondura — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • German: Schwierigkeiten — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • German: tiefe Not — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • Hungarian: mély víz — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • Italian: alto mare — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • Japanese: 深い苦痛 (fukai kutsū) — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • Polish: głęboka woda — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • Portuguese: aperto — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • Portuguese: maus lençóis — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • Russian: больша́я беда́ (bolʹšája bedá) — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • Russian: бе́здна а́да (bézdna áda) — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • Spanish: profunda angustia — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • Swedish: djupt vatten — difficult or embarrassing situation
  • Vietnamese: nước sôi lửa bỏng — difficult or embarrassing situation