derive

American  

[dih-rahyv] / dɪˈraɪv /

verb (used with object)

derives, present (3rd person singular) derived, past participle, past deriving present participle

1. to receive or obtain from a source or origin (usually followed byfrom ).

   Synonyms:

   net, reap, gather, glean, attain, gain

2. to trace from a source or origin.

   English words derived from German.

3. to reach or obtain by reasoning; deduce; infer.

4. Chemistry. to produce or obtain (a substance) from another.

5. Grammar. to create (a new linguistic form) by adding affixes to or changing the shape of a root or base.

   The word “runner” is derived from “run.”

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verb (used without object)

derives, present (3rd person singular) derived, past participle, past deriving present participle

1. to come from a source or origin; originate (often followed byfrom ).

derive British  

/ dɪˈraɪv /

verb

1. (usually foll by from) to draw or be drawn (from) in source or origin; trace or be traced

2. (tr) to obtain by reasoning; deduce; infer

3. (tr) to trace the source or development of

4. (usually foll by from) to produce or be produced (from) by a chemical reaction

5. maths to obtain (a function) by differentiation

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• derivable
  adjective
• nonderivable
  adjective
• deriver
  noun
• underivable
  adjective
• prederive
  verb (used with object)

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have derived
  perfect
• has derived
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am deriving
  progressive 1st person singular
• is deriving
  progressive 3rd person singular
• derives
  singular 3rd person
• are deriving
  progressive
• has been deriving
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• deriving
  participle
• have been deriving
  perfect progressive

Past

• had derived
  perfect
• were deriving
  progressive plural
• was deriving
  progressive singular
• derived
  participle
• had been deriving
  perfect progressive
• derived
  simple

Future

• will derive
  simple
• will have derived
  perfect
• will have been deriving
  perfect progressive
• will be deriving
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of derive

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English diriven, deriven “to flow, draw from, spring,” from Anglo-French, Old French deriver, from Latin dērīvāre “to lead off,” equivalent to dē- de- + rīv(us) “a stream” + -āre infinitive suffix

Explanation

If you want to talk about something that comes from something else, but you want to sound sophisticated and maybe financial or scientific, use derive, like so: That scent? It's derived from a solution of roses boiled with toothpicks. The word derive derives from (see how we did that?) the Latin rivus or stream, as in water. That image of the stream may help you remember the meaning of derive; you may picture tracing tiny streams back to their main source. Derive is a verb, as you can see, but it's often in the news in the noun form derivative: something that is derived from something else, as in "juice is a derivative of an orange."

Example Sentences

Mohajer told MarketWatch that it’s not easy to buy and integrate companies, but that SoundHound has been able to derive value from its acquisitions, serving both shareholders and the acquirees themselves.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

Hedge and haw derive from the Proto-Indo-European root kagh, “to catch.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

When investors want to express a view on the trajectory of the world’s financial markets, they often use the S&P 500 because its constituents derive so much revenue from international operations.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Former Twitter executive Bruce Daisley said most big tech firms derive their value from growing faster than the rest of the stock market.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Hobbes would not have said that we derive our knowledge of the kings of France from authority; he would have said we derive it immediately from testimony and, ultimately, from sense experience.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• acquire
• assume
• collect
• determine
• develop
• evolve
• extract
• glean
• infer
• obtain
• receive