depend

verb

de·​pend di-ˈpend 

depended; depending; depends

intransitive verb

1

a

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

Life depends on water.

Our plans depend on the weather.

the value of Y depends on X

b

—used to say that the answer to a question will be different in different situations

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

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

Synonyms of depend

• base
• turn
• hinge
• ride

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 on the Web

Shaina Montiel says her mother stills cries thinking about her harrowing experience with hantavirus at age 5, which, according to the CDC, can have a fatality rate up to 38%, depending on the type of syndrome caused by it. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 12 May 2026

The pyramids are roughly a 20–25 minute drive away, depending on traffic, which makes the location particularly convenient for early morning visits. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026

That right cannot depend on a caseworker’s unchecked determination. —James R Mason, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026

Who to blame for the end of the series mostly depends on allegiance. —Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dependen "to hang down, be uncertain, await settlement (of a lawsuit), owe existence (to)," borrowed from Anglo-French dependre "to be pending" (also continental Old French, "to be hanging, be contingent on"), from de- de- + pendre "to hang," modeled on Latin dependēre "to hang down, be derived (from), be contingent on" — more at pendent

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing depend

• depend on/upon

Rhymes for depend

• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend
• commend
• compend
• contend
• defend
• descend

Kids Definition

depend

verb

de·​pend di-ˈpend 

1

: to be determined by or based on

success of the picnic will depend on the weather

2

: trust entry 2 sense 1a, rely

a person you can depend on

3

: to rely for support

children depend on their parents

4

: to hang down

a vine depending from a tree

Etymology

Middle English dependen "to exist or result from some other condition," from early French dependre (same meaning), derived from Latin dependēre "to hang down, hang from," from de- "from, down" and pendēre "to hang" — related to pendulum, perpendicular