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

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

Inflected Forms

Participles

• deriving
  present
• derived
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• derive
  simple
• derives
  simple
• have derived
  perfect
• has derived
  perfect
• am deriving
  progressive
• are deriving
  progressive
• is deriving
  progressive
• have been deriving
  perfect progressive
• has been deriving
  perfect progressive

Past

• derived
  simple
• had derived
  perfect
• was deriving
  progressive
• were deriving
  progressive
• had been deriving
  perfect progressive

Future

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

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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

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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

See Examples For:

derive derives derived deriving

The key to the success of the method -- which the team informally dubbed "helping hands" -- is the transfer of healthy photosynthetic algae, also known as symbionts, from which corals derive their color.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Mark Taylor, CEO of the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority North West, told the BBC: "The incident led to a delay in the fishers being able to derive an income from the bed".

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

Investors might also derive some reassurance from the weak seasonality in August and September returns shown in five of the last ten years.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026

If the forms of the Lucas Museum derive from nature, it is nature as abstracted by industrial design.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

“In that case,” she said, sharply, “I need facts. Exactly what advantage does Hyper Base derive from these modified robots? What factor made them desirable, general?”

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

“I genuinely see Iran’s relationship with the axis as one of interdependence. It derives some of its strength, information and access to global markets through these different groups,” Salisbury said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

Once mainly known as an assembler of Apple’s devices, the world’s largest contract electronics maker now derives a meaningful share of revenue from building AI servers for industry leaders such as Nvidia.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Arm also derives substantial revenue through Arm China, a quasi-joint venture majority-owned by a Chinese consortium that includes state-backed investors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

"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

In looking back over my career thus far, my chief satisfaction derives from what I achieved during those years, and I am today nothing but proud and grateful to have been given such a privilege.

From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro

Meanwhile, induced neurons derived from female participants showed an increase in autophagy with age.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026

“Our caution on the stock is derived from sustainability of growth across the group,” Bernstein says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

But she was treated with heparin, an anticoagulant derived from intestinal tissue of pigs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

She also recommended treatments utilizing exosomes, vesicles derived from stem cells, which purport to combat anxiety among other menopause symptoms.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

The word style is derived from stilus, the writing instrument of the ancient Romans.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

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

Since many of our waking hours are spent on the job, Ms. Vanderkam also focuses on deriving more satisfaction from work to avoid “wishing time away.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026

A year ago, 13% of S&P 500 index constituents noted benefits deriving from AI adoption.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 27, 2026

By deriving a distance-energy ratio, the model captures the essential chemistry of the reaction kinetics with significantly lower computational demands than conventional methods.

From Science Daily ● May 17, 2024

After a while he fell asleep, and she lay there holding his head, deriving a small but important comfort, even faintly smiling as she stared at the ceiling.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

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Related Words

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

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