depend

verb de·pend \ di-ˈpend \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Examples: depend in a Sentence

Definition of depend

intransitive verb

1 : to be determined, based, or contingent (see ¹contingent 1)

life depends on food

the value of Y depends on X

2 : to be pending or undecided

matters of greatest moment were depending
—John Milton

3 a : to place reliance or trust

you can depend on me

b : to be dependent especially for financial support

Her family depends on her paycheck.

still depends on his parents

4 : to hang down

a star was depending from his neck
—Arnold Bennett

See depend defined for English-language learners

See depend defined for kids

Examples of depend in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of depend from the Web

The iOS contacts list can contain an array of information about someone, depending on how fully a user has fleshed out details.

— glenn fleishman, Fortune, "Apple Bars Apps from Scraping Address Books and Spamming Contacts," 13 June 2018
Denver District Attorney Beth McCann said Bishop may face additional charges depending on the results of a blood-alcohol content analysis, which could take another week.

— eric levenson, CNN, "Dancing FBI agent who shot someone is due in court on assault charge," 13 June 2018
Watch steals are rather simple depending on the type of clasp.

— anna silman, The Cut, "The World’s Best Pickpocket Reviews The Ocean’s 8 Heist," 13 June 2018
Woods at least has been able to avoid the traffic that has led to commutes of close to two hours from the official hotel depending on the time of morning.

— BostonGlobe.com, "After working NHL playoffs, referee Garrett Rank qualified for US Open," 13 June 2018
Cheata bicycles range from about $1,800 to almost $4,000 depending on component options and paint.

— erik s. hanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "South Milwaukee cops bring back bicycle patrol, might get motorized Cheata bicycle," 13 June 2018
GrowlerWerks uKeg, $149-$229, depending on size and finish. www.markandgraham.com.

— john v. smith, Philly.com, "A personal keg for Dad," 13 June 2018
This year could prove the biggest challenge of her political career, depending on the Democratic nominee.

— jenna portnoy, Washington Post, "Virginia voters go to the polls to nominate Rep. Comstock challenger, GOP Senate hopeful," 12 June 2018
But recent technological advances open a whole new realm of possibilities, or danger, depending on how that footage is used, and by whom.

— maya kosoff, The Hive, "New Jersey Welcomes a New Surveillance State," 11 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'depend.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of depend

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

depend Synonyms

Phrases

bank on, call on (or upon), figure on, look to, stand on;

DEPEND Defined for English Language Learners

depend

verb

Definition of depend for English Language Learners

—used in speech in phrases like it depends and that depends to say that the answer to a question will be different in different situations

DEPEND Defined for Kids

depend

verb de·pend \ di-ˈpend \

Definition of depend for Students

depended; depending

: to be subject to determination by the situation

Are you going to the party? I don't know. It depends.

— depend on

1 : to rely for support

Children depend on their parents.

2 : to be determined by or based on a person, action, or condition

The people had been very proud … that victory or defeat depended on them.
—Theodore Taylor, The Cay

3 : ¹trust 2, rely

You can depend on me to get the job done.

Word Root of depend

The Latin word pendere, meaning “to cause to hang down,” gives us the root pend. Words from the Latin pendere have something to do with hanging. To suspend is to cause something to hang down from a single point. To depend is to hang, or rely, on the support of others. A pendant is an ornament that hangs free, as on a necklace. A pendulum is an object hung from a point that swings freely back and forth, as in a clock.