derive

American  

[dih-rahyv] / dɪˈraɪv /

verb (used with object)

derived, deriving

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)

derived, deriving

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

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

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

Example Sentences

Even in a world that feels so overwhelming, we can all find an object from which to derive a sense of gratitude,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

And the plastics increasingly used to build and furnish homes derive from fossil fuels.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

Financial-data providers might seem like an unlikely target for AI-driven disruption, since many of the biggest ones derive their value from proprietary access to data and information feeds used by bankers and traders.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

The trend is also likely to benefit U.S. companies that derive a majority of their business overseas, notes Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Group.

From Barron's • Jan. 26, 2026

From them, it should be possible to derive a complete system of knowledge embracing every aspect of the natural world, just as one can deduce the whole of Euclidean geometry from five axioms.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

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