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

The new centre may be based in the German city of Hanover or Munich, depending on how negotiations progress. —PC Magazine, 9 Nov. 2025

The legal wrangling has left millions of Americans who depend on food aid in confusing limbo. —Michelle L. Price, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2025

And now sometimes depending on who’s healthy and who’s not, that could look different. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025

Manufacturers suggest running an air purifier from just a few hours a day to around the clock, depending on room size. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025

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