depend
to rely; place trust (usually followed by on or upon): You may depend on the accuracy of the report.
to rely for support, maintenance, help, etc. (usually followed by on or upon): Children depend on their parents.
to be conditioned or contingent (usually followed by on or upon): His success here depends upon effort and ability.
to be undetermined or pending: I may go to Europe or I may not, it all depends.
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.
to hang down; be suspended (usually followed by from): The chandelier depends from the ceiling of the ballroom.
Origin of depend
1Other words from depend
- in·ter·de·pend, verb (used without object)
- re·de·pend, verb (used without object)
- self-de·pend·ing, adjective
Words Nearby depend
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use depend in a sentence
There is something to be said for my colleague Barry Svrluga’s notion that continuing to play the anthem nightly gives people the chance to stand with hand-on-heart or kneel, depending on how they feel.
Mark Cuban had the right idea: It’s time to rethink how we use the national anthem | John Feinstein | February 12, 2021 | Washington PostIf your site depends on Google Images for traffic, you may have already noticed changes to your traffic back in November.
Google Image Search update reduces duplicate image results | Barry Schwartz | February 11, 2021 | Search Engine LandTheir survival depended on working together, and over many difficult hours, they took turns saving each other.
A Climbing Disaster Interrupted by a Love Story | Outside Editors | February 11, 2021 | Outside OnlineIt depends on the views, and where they are on the political scale.
This pot may grow or shrink during the game depending on your ongoing wins or losses.
All of these far future speculations, of course, depend on a series of “ifs.”
Experts agree that much will depend on the measures undertaken both by the United States and Cuba.
After all, smaller developing nations like Cameroon often depend on trade with and aid from the West.
Attacks are underreported and surveys often depend on what questions were asked and who responded.
Two-thirds of the 22 million people in West Africa depend on farming to live.
This provided for, I will protect myself from future insult, depend upon it.
Judge: Now, Sir, your punishment shall depend on the shortness and correctness of your answers.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | VariousWrite to me by all means whenever anything strikes you, and you may always depend on having my best advice.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis TrevithickSocial betterment must depend at every stage on the force of public spirit and public morality that inspires it.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockThat must depend in every case upon the particular circumstances of the community concerned.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen Leacock
British Dictionary definitions for depend
/ (dɪˈpɛnd) /
(foll by on or upon) to put trust (in); rely (on); be sure (of)
(usually foll by on or upon; often with it as subject) to be influenced or determined (by); be resultant (from): whether you come or not depends on what father says; it all depends on you
(foll by on or upon) to rely (on) for income, support, etc
(foll by from) rare to hang down; be suspended
to be undecided or pending
Origin of depend
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse