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.
VPN speeds depend on multiple factors — some of which are out of the VPN provider’s hands, such as your local network conditions.
From Salon
Whether the price increases prove temporary will depend on how long the Iran conflict lasts and the new level of replacement tariffs.
From MarketWatch
The way these pulses overlap and interfere depends on their phase, allowing different quantum states to be identified and measured.
From Science Daily
But it too depends on the ability of actors to embody the biographical weight of its finely detailed characters.
From Los Angeles Times
He added that support for households would be kept under review but "a lot will depend on how long the conflict goes on" and how quickly the Strait of Hormuz can be reopened.
From BBC
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.
