To depress means to push something down or to make something lower. When you depress a key on a piano, you press it down to create a sound. A doctor might ask you to depress your tongue with a tongue depressor so she can see your throat clearly. Old-fashioned elevator buttons required you to depress them firmly before the elevator would move.

The word also describes making someone feel sad, discouraged, or hopeless. Hearing bad news might depress your spirits, making you feel low and gloomy. A rainy week can depress people who love sunshine and outdoor play. When something depresses you, it weighs on your mood the way pressing down on a spring compresses it.

In economics, to depress means to reduce or weaken something. High taxes might depress business activity in a town. Too much of a product on the market can depress prices, making each item worth less.

Notice how all these meanings share the idea of pushing downward, whether it's physically pressing a button, emotionally bringing down someone's mood, or economically lowering prices or activity.