depressed over time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "depressed over time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a gradual decline in mood or emotional state over a period. Example: "After months of stress and isolation, she found herself feeling increasingly depressed over time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Carers with better experiences of end-of-life care, including higher levels of mastery and more positive perceptions of care, have been found to be substantially less depressed over time and have better bereavement outcomes [ 9, 10].

BMC Palliative Care

This fits with previous findings that some caregivers use positive interpretation as a meaning based coping resource [ 17], and that those with better experiences of end-of-life care, including higher levels of mastery and more positive perceptions of care, have been found to be substantially less depressed over time and have better bereavement outcomes [ 9, 10].

BMC Palliative Care

In our earlier studies we found that family carers tended to become more anxious and depressed over time without intervention, and that this was associated with an increase in abusive behaviour, and thus we included carers who were not depressed at presentation to services.

British Medical Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

According to the modern definition, a geomagnetic storm is characterized by a main phase during which the horizontal component of the Earth's low-latitude magnetic fields are significantly depressed over a time span of one to a few hours followed by its recovery, which may extend over several days (Rostoker et al. 1997).

Geoscience Letters

You want something part-time or flexible with reasonable pay per hour, that interests you enough not to depress you over time.

The Guardian

Participants indicated on a five-point response scale (1 = none of the time to 5 = all of the time) how often they felt conditions such as "tired out for no good reason," "nervous" and "depressed" over the past 4 weeks.

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

He was depressed over $40,000 in debts.

The New York Times

The earnings of Dislocated Workers are depressed over several quarters following entry into WIA.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

Participants were censored at the time of the first diagnosis of depression during the follow-up or at the last follow-up for those never depressed over the follow-up.

BMJ Open

"People change over time.

The New York Times

Using the current approach, we can infer whether a new case is, for example, more likely to remit than show a chronic course or more likely to be chronically depressed than improve over time but not derive a single class prediction.

Biological Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use specific language to convey the depth of emotion. Instead of simply saying someone is "depressed over time", consider adding descriptive adjectives to clarify the extent of their feelings, such as "increasingly despondent" or "progressively more disheartened".

Common error

Don't use "depressed over time" without providing context about the cause or contributing factors. It's more impactful to explain what led to the decline in mood, such as "depressed over time due to persistent isolation" rather than leaving it as a standalone statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "depressed over time" functions as an adjective phrase modifying an implied subject, indicating a state of declining mood over a duration. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage accurately describes a gradual change in emotional state. The examples show its use in academic and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "depressed over time" is a grammatically correct way to describe a gradual decline in mood or emotional state. Although Ludwig identifies it as relatively rare, it appears in a variety of contexts including science and news media, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. When using this phrase, it's best to provide context about the cause of the decline, avoiding vagueness and enhancing clarity. Related phrases, such as "increasingly melancholy" or "sinking into despair", can provide nuance depending on the specific emotional state you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Worsening mood over time

Directly refers to the deterioration of mood.

Gradually becoming despondent

Focuses on the gradual nature of becoming despondent.

Deteriorating emotional state

Directly refers to the deterioration of one's emotional state.

Increasingly melancholy

Emphasizes a growing sense of sadness.

Escalating unhappiness

Emphasizes the increasing level of unhappiness.

Sinking into despair

Highlights a downward spiral into despair.

Progressively more disheartened

Stresses the progressive increase in discouragement.

Growing gloom

Focuses on the increase of gloom.

Decline in mental wellbeing

Focuses on the deterioration of mental wellbeing.

Evolving sadness

Highlights the evolving or changing nature of sadness.

FAQs

How can I use "depressed over time" in a sentence?

You can use "depressed over time" to describe a gradual decline in someone's mood. For example: "After months of stress and isolation, she found herself feeling increasingly "depressed over time"."

What are some alternatives to saying "depressed over time"?

Alternatives include phrases like "gradually becoming despondent", "increasingly melancholy", or "sinking into despair", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "depressed over time"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase accurately describes a gradual change in emotional state. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable in written English.

What does "depressed over time" imply?

It implies a gradual worsening of one's emotional state or mood over a period, suggesting a prolonged experience of sadness or low spirits. The duration and context help refine the specific meaning.