depend

de·pend

verb \di-ˈpend\

Definition of DEPEND

intransitive verb

1

: to be determined, based, or contingent <life depends on food> <the value of Y depends on X>

2

: to be pending or undecided

3

a : to place reliance or trust <you can depend on me> b : to be dependent especially for financial support

4

: to hang down

Examples of DEPEND

1. <whether or not we play baseball will depend on how much rain we get>
2. <I know I can always depend on you for help when I really need it.>

Origin of DEPEND

Middle English, from Anglo-French dependre, modification of Latin dependēre, from de- + pendēre to hang — more at pendant

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to DEPEND

Synonyms: hang, hinge, ride, turn

Related Words: base, establish, found, rest, stay; ground

Near Antonyms: distrust, mistrust, question, suspect

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with DEPEND

addend, amend, append, ascend, attend, bartend, befriend, Big Bend, bookend, boyfriend, closed-end, commend, compend, contend, dead end, dead-end, defend, descend, distend, downtrend, emend, expend, extend, fag end, forfend, front-end, girlfriend, Gravesend, headend, high-end, hornblende, impend, intend, Land's End, loose end, low-end, missend, misspend, next friend, no end, offend, on end, Ostend, outspend, perpend, pitchblende, portend, pretend, propend, protend, rear-end, resend, sheet bend, South Bend, split end, stipend, subtend, suspend, tag end, tail end, tight end, top-end, transcend, unbend, unkenned, upend, uptrend, weekend, year-end