deep down

adverb

Fundamentally; in essence; in reality; as part of an honest appraisal.

“She said she was confident, but deep down she knew she had messed up.”

Similar
at heartin the endat bottominsidein spite of appearance
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Meanings

adverbdeep down (not comparable)
  1. idiomaticnot comparableFundamentally; in essence; in reality; as part of an honest appraisal.

    She said she was confident, but deep down she knew she had messed up.

    1 more example

    He seems like an average businessman, but deep down he's an overgrown kid with a necktie.

    Synonyms: at heart, in the end

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbFundamentally; in essence; in reality; as part of an honest appraisal.

Similar
at heartin the end

More synonyms by meaning

adverbin reality

Similar
at heartat bottominsidein spite of appearance
Also see
at bottomat heartby definitionessentiallyfundamentallyin effectinsidein the endsubstantiallyultimately

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Danish dybest set, inderst inde
  • dybest setFundamentally, in essence
  • inderst indeFundamentally, in essence
  • i bund og grundFundamentally, in essence
Esperanto animprofunde
  • animprofundeFundamentally, in essence
Finnish pohjimmiltaan
  • pohjimmiltaanFundamentally, in essence
French au fond
  • au fondFundamentally, in essence
Greek κατά βάθος
  • κατά βάθος (katá váthos)Fundamentally, in essence
Hungarian végső soron, alapvetően
  • végső soronFundamentally, in essence
  • alapvetőenFundamentally, in essence
  • alapjában véveFundamentally, in essence
  • igazábólFundamentally, in essence
  • lelke mélyénFundamentally, in essence
  • legbelülFundamentally, in essence
Icelandic inn við beinið, undirniðri
  • inn við beiniðFundamentally, in essence
  • undirniðriFundamentally, in essence
Italian in fondo, sotto sotto
  • in fondoFundamentally, in essence
  • sotto sottoFundamentally, in essence
Norwegian Bokmål innerst inne, dypest sett
  • innerst inneFundamentally, in essence
  • dypest settFundamentally, in essence
  • i virkelighetenFundamentally, in essence
  • i bunn og grunnFundamentally, in essence
Polish w głębi duszy
  • w głębi duszyFundamentally, in essence
Portuguese no fundo
  • no fundoFundamentally, in essence
Russian в глубине души
  • в глубине души (v glubine duši)Fundamentally, in essence
Spanish en el fondo
  • en el fondoFundamentally, in essence
Cite this entry
APA

deep down. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deep%20down

MLA

“deep down.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deep%20down. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “deep down,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deep%20down.

Source: deep down on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.