depend
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to rely; place trust (usually followed by on orupon ).
You may depend on the accuracy of the report.
-
to rely for support, maintenance, help, etc. (usually followed by on orupon ).
Children depend on their parents.
-
to be conditioned or contingent (usually followed by on orupon ).
His success here depends upon effort and ability.
-
to be undetermined or pending.
I may go to Europe or I may not, it all depends.
-
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.
-
to hang down; be suspended (usually followed byfrom ).
The chandelier depends from the ceiling of the ballroom.
verb
-
to put trust (in); rely (on); be sure (of)
-
to be influenced or determined (by); be resultant (from)
whether you come or not depends on what father says
it all depends on you
-
to rely (on) for income, support, etc
-
rare (foll by from) to hang down; be suspended
-
to be undecided or pending
Other Word Forms
- interdepend verb (used without object)
- redepend verb (used without object)
- self-depending adjective
Etymology
Origin of depend
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”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
According to the team, these microbes did not depend on sunlight.
From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026
According to a study by Data for India, about 15% of urban households and 6% of rural households depend on bottled water for their drinking needs.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
A lot seems to depend on matters of personal choice, will and mood.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026
Adverse effects depend on the level of lead in the food, the age of the consumer and the frequency of exposure, according to the FDA.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026
And now, I didn’t have much choice about whether to depend on her.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
