Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
dejected
de‧jec‧ted /dɪˈdʒektəd, dɪˈdʒektɪd/ BrE AmE adjective
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: dejectus, from jacere 'to throw']
unhappy, disappointed, or sad:
The unemployed stood at street corners, dejected.
—dejectedly adverb
—dejection /dɪˈdʒekʃən/ noun [uncountable]
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ sad not happy: She felt sad as she waved goodbye. | a sad and lonely figure | a sad face | a sad film
▪ unhappy sad, especially for a long time – used about people and periods of time: I was unhappy at school. | an unhappy childhood | He’s obviously a deeply unhappy person.
▪ homesick [not before noun] sad because you are away from your home, family, and friends: She sometimes felt homesick when she first arrived in Japan.
▪ down [not before noun] informal feeling sad for a few hours or days, often for no reason: Whenever I’m feeling down, I go out and buy myself some new clothes. | She’s been kind of down since that argument with Jack.
▪ gloomy looking or sounding sad and without hope – used about people, places, and weather: Why are you all looking so gloomy? | the gloomy immigration office | a gloomy afternoon in February
▪ dejected/downcast looking sad and disappointed because something you hoped for did not happen: ‘I didn’t pass,’ he said, looking dejected. | a downcast expression | He was understandably downcast after the team’s loss.
▪ mournful especially literary looking or sounding sad: the dog’s big mournful eyes | the mournful sound of the church bell | a mournful expression
▪ glum looking sad and disappointed: Don’t look so glum! Maybe you’ll win next time. | They sat in glum silence.
▪ wistful especially literary looking a little sad and thoughtful, because you wish that the situation was different: She looked at him with a wistful smile.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
dejected
de·ject·ed [dejected dejectedly] [dɪˈdʒektɪd] [dɪˈdʒektɪd] adjective
unhappy and disappointed
Syn: despondent
• She looked so dejected when she lost the game.
Derived Word: dejectedly
Example Bank:
• She looked sorrowful and dejected.
• They were thoroughly dejected and miserable.
• He watched the dejected figure walk past him into the cottage.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
dejected / dɪˈdʒek.tɪd / adjective
unhappy, disappointed, or without hope:
She looked a bit dejected when she was told that she hadn't got the job.
dejectedly / -li / adverb
dejection / -ʃ ə n / noun [ U ]
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
dejected
/dɪdʒektɪd/
If you are dejected, you feel miserable or unhappy, especially because you have just been disappointed by something.
Everyone has days when they feel dejected or down.
= despondent
ADJ
• de‧ject‧ed‧ly
Passengers queued dejectedly for the increasingly dirty toilets.
ADV: ADV with v
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
dejected
de·ject·ed /dɪˈʤɛktəd/ adj [more ~; most ~] : sad because of failure, loss, etc.
• The dejected players left the field.
• She's been so dejected [=depressed, unhappy] since her sister moved away.
- de·ject·ed·ly adv
• The players dejectedly walked off the field.