depend

[ dih-pend ]
See synonyms for: dependdependeddepending on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)
  1. to rely; place trust (usually followed by on or upon): You may depend on the accuracy of the report.

  2. to rely for support, maintenance, help, etc. (usually followed by on or upon): Children depend on their parents.

  1. to be conditioned or contingent (usually followed by on or upon): His success here depends upon effort and ability.

  2. to be undetermined or pending: I may go to Europe or I may not, it all depends.

  3. Grammar. (of a word or other linguistic form) to be subordinate to another linguistic form in the same construction; to form a part of a construction other than the head.

  4. to hang down; be suspended (usually followed by from): The chandelier depends from the ceiling of the ballroom.

Origin of depend

1
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English dependen, from Old French dependre, from Latin dēpendere “to hang down,” from dē- de- + pendere “to hang”

Other words from depend

  • in·ter·de·pend, verb (used without object)
  • re·de·pend, verb (used without object)
  • self-de·pend·ing, adjective

Words Nearby depend

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use depend in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for depend

depend

/ (dɪˈpɛnd) /


verb(intr)
  1. (foll by on or upon) to put trust (in); rely (on); be sure (of)

  2. (usually foll by on or upon; often with it as subject) to be influenced or determined (by); be resultant (from): whether you come or not depends on what father says; it all depends on you

  1. (foll by on or upon) to rely (on) for income, support, etc

  2. (foll by from) rare to hang down; be suspended

  3. to be undecided or pending

Origin of depend

1
C15: from Old French dependre, from Latin dēpendēre to hang from, from de- + pendēre to hang

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012