depend

verb

de·​pend di-ˈpend 

depended; depending; depends

intransitive verb

1

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

Synonyms

• hang
• hinge
• ride
• turn

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

Plausible deniability at its worst or best, depending on your perspective. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024

The future for the businesses depends in part on how quickly the city can get permits to add the left-turn lanes on Fairbanks, which is a state road and requires approval from the Florida Department of Transportation. —Silas Morgan, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Dec. 2024

For example, this Patagonia Women’s Re-tool Hybrid Pullover is 50 percent off and can be layered up or down depending on your needs. —Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 2 Dec. 2024

In both Syria and Iraq, the security of the central government depended on Iran—and because Iran is a Shiite sectarian power, the Sunnis ended up ignored, subjugated, or just plain shafted. —Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing depend

• depend on/upon

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