deplete

Name: deplete, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/dɪˈpliːt/

//dɪˈpliːt// verb

By PlainSpell Editorial Team · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“deplete” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #44,159 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#44,159
frequency rank, English: 7
letters: 10
tracked misspellings: 4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something)

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

deplete vs depleted

88% similar

deplete vs delete

86% similar

deplete vs deleted

71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for deplete
Property	Value
Headword	deplete
Language	English
Part of speech	Verb
IPA	/dɪˈpliːt/
Letters	7
Frequency rank	#44,159
Misspellings tracked	10
Confusable pairs	4
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “deplete” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). deplete lands here:

#44,159

#1#100#1K#10K#100K

← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for deplete is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /dɪˈpliːt/. Corpus data places it at rank #44,159 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 11 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for deplete, with forms such as "ddeplete", "delpete", and "depelte". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "depleted", "delete", "deleted", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin dēplētus (“empty”), from depleō. First attested in 1716; originally a medical term. The correct English form is deplete, spelled D-E-P-L-E-T-E.

Definition

1
To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something)
2
To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something):
3
To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something):
4
To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something):
5
To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something):
6
To empty or purge (something of a substance).
7
To empty or purge (something of a substance).
8
To empty or purge (something of a substance).
9
To diminish in quantity or strength; to be consumed.
10
To diminish in quantity or strength; to be consumed.
11
To diminish in quantity or strength; to be consumed.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dēplētus (“empty”), from depleō. First attested in 1716; originally a medical term.

Antonyms

replenish

This word in other languages

depletar(Español)vider(Français)leeren(Deutsch)esgotar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ddeplete,delpete,depelte,depleet,deplette,depllete,depltee,depplete,dpelete,edplete

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of deplete - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

Edit distance from "deplete"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "deplete"?

"deplete" is spelled D-E-P-L-E-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪˈpliːt/.

What does "deplete" mean?

As a verb, "deplete" means: To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something)

What words are commonly confused with "deplete"?

"deplete" is commonly confused with "depleted", "delete", "deleted". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.

How do you pronounce "deplete"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "deplete" is /dɪˈpliːt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.

What is the origin of the word "deplete"?

Borrowed from Latin dēplētus (“empty”), from depleō. First attested in 1716; originally a medical term. See the full etymology section above for more details.

Is PlainSpell free to use?

Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “deplete”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

The one correct English spelling is D-E-P-L-E-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
Say it as /dɪˈpliːt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
Don't mix it up with “depleted” - see the side-by-side comparison. deplete vs depleted
Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.