derive
Americanverb (used with object)
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derives,
present (3rd person singular)
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derived,
past participle, past
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deriving
present participle
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to receive or obtain from a source or origin (usually followed byfrom ).
-
to trace from a source or origin.
English words derived from German.
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Chemistry. to produce or obtain (a substance) from another.
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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.”
verb (used without object)
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derives,
present (3rd person singular)
-
derived,
past participle, past
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deriving
present participle
verb
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(usually foll by from) to draw or be drawn (from) in source or origin; trace or be traced
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(tr) to obtain by reasoning; deduce; infer
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(tr) to trace the source or development of
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(usually foll by from) to produce or be produced (from) by a chemical reaction
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maths to obtain (a function) by differentiation
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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derivernoun
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prederiveverb (used with object)
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derivableadjective
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nonderivableadjective
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underivableadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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derivesimple
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derivessimple
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have derivedperfect
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has derivedperfect
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am derivingprogressive
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are derivingprogressive
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is derivingprogressive
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have been derivingperfect progressive
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has been derivingperfect progressive
Past
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derivedsimple
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had derivedperfect
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was derivingprogressive
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were derivingprogressive
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had been derivingperfect progressive
Future
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."
Vocabulary lists containing derive
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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"On Women's Right to Vote" by Susan B. Anthony
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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.
See Examples For:
It is worth remembering that the book’s insights derive from self-reported data.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
The government is requiring all new data centers to derive at least 80% of their power from renewables.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
While Europe may derive some satisfaction from moderate growth of 3%, alarm bells will be ringing at who is benefiting.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
Whatever the precise reasons for the breaks, and whether they are needed physically or not, Jagielka feels coaches can derive huge benefits from them, especially if a team is underperforming.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026
This bit of common sense, sometimes termed the pigeonhole or Dirichlet drawer principle, can occasionally be used to derive claims that are not so obvious.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
"The Fifa World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all Confederations and the world's leading football nations," it said.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
Most of its revenue—57% in its most recent quarter—still derives from handset sales.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
The film derives its title from the girl’s interest in “Little Irène,” a painting by influential French impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026
His first name derives from that of Zayd Shakur, the minister of information of the East Coast Panthers, a radical group formed in the late 1960s.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
Her celebrity derives not from her present occupation but a previous one— dance-hall hostess, an incarnation not indicated by her appearance.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
His channel, Aeris Rimor -- roughly derived from the Latin for Searcher of the Skies -- is one of dozens sending real-time messages about incoming drones and missiles.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
It is a naturally derived material and is often discarded as waste by the farming industry, giving it potential as both a renewable and scalable resource.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026
He runs his business by the “humanistic capitalism” he derived from ancient philosophers whose names he casually drops in conversation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
The BEA previously derived its legal data from an unpublished survey in the consumer-price index that had an unusually small sample size.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
It is probable that the craft of building, as many other crafts beside, was derived from the Dúnedain.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
But the North Sea is not seen as deriving much profit for the group, even if more drilling is allowed.
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
A year ago, 13% of S&P 500 index constituents noted benefits deriving from AI adoption.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 27, 2026
Enterprises, which can include companies and other large organizations, have passed through several stages in the way they think about deriving value from AI.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2025
The imagery which depicted gods, goddesses, supreme preachers and enlightened souls of three ancient religions - Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism - was reimagined from symbolic to more recognisably deriving from human form.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2025
Ben and Mary Anne paced the halls of Calhoun High together, deriving strength and comfort from each other’s desolation.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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.
