depend

[ dih-pend ]

verb (used without object)

1. to rely; place trust (usually followed by on or upon ):

   You may depend on the accuracy of the report.

2. to rely for support, maintenance, help, etc. (usually followed by on or upon ):

   Children depend on their parents.

3. to be conditioned or contingent (usually followed by on or upon ):

   His success here depends upon effort and ability.

4. to be undetermined or pending:

   I may go to Europe or I may not, it all depends.

5. 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.
6. to hang down; be suspended (usually followed by from ):

   The chandelier depends from the ceiling of the ballroom.

depend

/ dɪˈpɛnd /

verb

1. foll byon or upon to put trust (in); rely (on); be sure (of)
2. usually foll byon or upon; often with it as subject to be influenced or determined (by); be resultant (from)

   it all depends on you

   whether you come or not depends on what father says

3. foll byon or upon to rely (on) for income, support, etc
4. rare.
   foll by from to hang down; be suspended
5. to be undecided or pending

Other Words From

• inter·de·pend verb (used without object)
• rede·pend verb (used without object)
• self-de·pending adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of depend¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of depend¹

C15: from Old French dependre, from Latin dēpendēre to hang from, from de- + pendēre to hang

Example Sentences

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.

From Washington Post

If your site depends on Google Images for traffic, you may have already noticed changes to your traffic back in November.

From Search Engine Land

Their survival depended on working together, and over many difficult hours, they took turns saving each other.

From Outside Online

It depends on the views, and where they are on the political scale.

From Washington Blade

This pot may grow or shrink during the game depending on your ongoing wins or losses.

From Quanta Magazine

All of these far future speculations, of course, depend on a series of “ifs.”

From The Daily Beast

Experts agree that much will depend on the measures undertaken both by the United States and Cuba.

From The Daily Beast

After all, smaller developing nations like Cameroon often depend on trade with and aid from the West.

From The Daily Beast

Attacks are underreported and surveys often depend on what questions were asked and who responded.

From The Daily Beast

Two-thirds of the 22 million people in West Africa depend on farming to live.

From The Daily Beast

This provided for, I will protect myself from future insult, depend upon it.

From Project Gutenberg

Judge: Now, Sir, your punishment shall depend on the shortness and correctness of your answers.

From Project Gutenberg

Write to me by all means whenever anything strikes you, and you may always depend on having my best advice.

From Project Gutenberg

Social betterment must depend at every stage on the force of public spirit and public morality that inspires it.

From Project Gutenberg

That must depend in every case upon the particular circumstances of the community concerned.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hinge on
• rest on
• revolve around