depend

[dih-pend]

verb (used without object)

1. to rely; place trust (usually followed by on orupon ).

   You may depend on the accuracy of the report.

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

   Children depend on their parents.

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

   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 byfrom ).

   The chandelier depends from the ceiling of the ballroom.

depend

/ dɪˈpɛnd /

verb

1. to put trust (in); rely (on); be sure (of)

2. to be influenced or determined (by); be resultant (from)

   whether you come or not depends on what father says

   it all depends on you

3. to rely (on) for income, support, etc

4. rare,  (foll by from) to hang down; be suspended

5. to be undecided or pending

Other Word Forms

• interdepend verb (used without object)
• redepend verb (used without object)
• self-depending 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

Bertien van Baak from Dutch Railways explains that there are off peak options, but apart from that, the amount you pay depends on the distance you need to travel.

From BBC

State leaders must focus “on D.C.-proofing California. We cannot continue to depend on D.C. and expect that they’re going to give a s— about us and what our needs are, because they don’t.”

From Los Angeles Times

How much money that totals depends on factors such as the amount of time served, how busy their fire station was and what rank they attained.

From BBC

“The alleged misconduct, if true, undermines the integrity of our justice system and the voices of survivors who depend on it,” Wells wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

“This all depends on how disruptive the fire will be to production,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• hinge on 
• rest on www.thesaurus.com
• revolve around www.thesaurus.com