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Preposition after adjective

Depressed about, by, for, at or in?

Depressed is commonly followed by about or by. Other prepositions may appear in special contexts.

Quick answer

Using prepositions with depressed

Use depressed about for a subject causing sadness and depressed by for a cause or influence. Depressed at is also possible with events. Depressed for and depressed in are uncommon as direct adjective patterns.

depressed about the exam results
depressed by the news
depressed at the situation

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
depressed about + topic

Feeling low about something

Use about for the issue causing sadness or discouragement.

She felt depressed about her grades
2
depressed by + cause

Affected negatively by something

Use by for an outside influence or event.

Many investors were depressed by the report
3
depressed at + event

Reaction to a situation

At can introduce a specific event or circumstance.

He was depressed at the team's defeat

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
depressed about
She is depressed about her finances.
Standard for a topic causing sadness.
depressed by
They were depressed by the constant delays.
Standard for a cause or influence.
depressed for
She felt sorry for him.
Not a usual pattern with depressed.
depressed at
I was depressed at the outcome.
Less common but acceptable.
depressed in
The economy is depressed in winter.
Usually refers to a low state within a field or place, not an emotional pattern.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using for after depressed

For is not normally used directly after depressed to show the cause.

✕ depressed for the news ✓ depressed by the news

Confusing emotional and economic meanings

Depressed in can describe a market or region rather than feelings.

✓ Sales were depressed in rural areas

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She felt depressed ___ the accident.
2. The audience was depressed ___ the documentary.
3. He was depressed ___ the result.

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Frequently asked questions

Is depressed about more common than depressed by?

Both are common, but they focus on different meanings. About introduces a topic, while by introduces a cause.

Can depressed describe economies?

Yes. A depressed market or region means economically weak.

Is depressed for correct?

Not usually. Use depressed about or depressed by instead.

daily, for, daily, with, daily, in damaging to, for, of, in or as? damn about, near, for, to or as? "dangerous for" or "dangerous to"? "dark in", "dark for" or "dark of"? "daunting for" or "daunting to"? dead in, on, by, at or of? deadly to, in, for, of or with? "deaf to" or "deaf in"? dear to, in, for, of or as? deceased in, to, for, at or on? "decent in" or "decent for"?

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