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    depletion

    nounBand 8formal

    UKdɪˈpliːʃn
    USdɪˈpliːʃən

    The reduction of something, especially a natural resource, by using it up.

    A reservoir almost empty, a narrow strip of water far below the old waterline on the exposed rock walls
    The water almost gone: depletion is using up a resource until little is left.

    The depletion of fish stocks worries scientists.

    We must slow the depletion of natural resources.

    Remember it

    Depletion comes from Latin roots meaning “to empty,” as using up a resource empties its supply.

    Goes with

    Words that go with depletion: resource depletion; ozone depletion; depletion of stocks; the depletion of resources.

    Similar and opposite

    Similar
    exhaustionreductionusing up
    Opposite
    replenishmentrenewal

    Word family

    The depletion family: depletion (noun), deplete (verb), depleted (adjective).

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