depend

[ dih-pend ]

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.

3. to be conditioned or contingent (usually followed by on or upon ):

   His success here depends upon effort and ability.

4. to be undetermined or pending:

   I may go to Europe or I may not, it all depends.

5. 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.
6. to hang down; be suspended (usually followed by from ):

   The chandelier depends from the ceiling of the ballroom.

depend

/ dɪˈpɛnd /

verb

1. foll byon or upon to put trust (in); rely (on); be sure (of)
2. usually foll byon 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

3. foll byon or upon to rely (on) for income, support, etc
4. rare.
   foll by from to hang down; be suspended
5. to be undecided or pending

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of depend¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of depend¹

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

Example Sentences

"It depends on the situation," he said before joking that he'd fight Paul's professional wrestler brother Logan.

From Salon

How Schiff uses his voice will depend in part on his committee assignments.

From Los Angeles Times

There are other ways in which we might say color isn’t real — or that it’s more real than we think, depending on how you think about culture.

From Salon

The current maximum annual cost for students outside England varies, depending on where they live and study:

From BBC

Didi and Gogo, as Vladimir and Estragon are affectionately known to each other, are like brothers who have depended on each other for their very survival, no matter that they drive each other completely crazy.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• hinge on
• rest on
• revolve around