depend
Americanverb (used without object)
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to rely; place trust (usually followed by on orupon ).
You may depend on the accuracy of the report.
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to rely for support, maintenance, help, etc. (usually followed by on orupon ).
Children depend on their parents.
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to be conditioned or contingent (usually followed by on orupon ).
His success here depends upon effort and ability.
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to be undetermined or pending.
I may go to Europe or I may not, it all depends.
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Grammar. (of a word or other linguistic form) to be subordinate to another linguistic form in the same construction; to form a part of a construction other than the head.
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to hang down; be suspended (usually followed byfrom ).
The chandelier depends from the ceiling of the ballroom.
verb
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to put trust (in); rely (on); be sure (of)
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to be influenced or determined (by); be resultant (from)
whether you come or not depends on what father says
it all depends on you
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to rely (on) for income, support, etc
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rare (foll by from) to hang down; be suspended
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to be undecided or pending
Other Word Forms
- interdepend verb (used without object)
- redepend verb (used without object)
- self-depending adjective
Etymology
Origin of depend
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English dependen, from Old French dependre, from Latin dēpendere “to hang down,” from dē- de- + pendere “to hang”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The next moves will depend on how soon the war ends and much damage is done to Middle East energy infrastructure.
From Barron's
Given that Iran’s economy depends heavily on oil revenue, Kharg is the choke point through which most of that revenue flows.
From Barron's
“That looks increasingly justified by weak labor-market data. But whether or not those cuts materialize also depends on the path of oil prices,” he said in a note to clients.
From MarketWatch
Because your and your former partner’s combined salaries amount to more than this, a judge may decide that he should provide more support, depending on other lifestyle factors like education and health costs.
From MarketWatch
"If reform is to rebuild confidence with families, it must strengthen and not strip away the protections that children and young people depend on."
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
