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

She said that alongside vital training for teachers, there are also practical measures a school can put in place such as the option to "skip certain lessons depending on the topics".

From BBC

In recent years, states that depend on the river have adopted a series of incremental water-saving plans in an effort to prevent the Colorado’s reservoirs from falling to critically low levels.

From Los Angeles Times

But these changes present a huge challenge in a sugar supply chain spanning more than 100 countries and the millions of people that depend on sugar's income.

From Salon

But much depends on how much profit margin they have, especially if high tariffs are implemented on all imported goods, not just ones from China.

From Salon

Much depends, as numerous members of the Bank of England have suggested, on the pass through of Budget measures into prices and wages.

From BBC

Related Words

• hinge on
• rest on
• revolve around