dependable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of dependable
Compare meaning
How does dependable compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Dependable means "reliable, steady, trustworthy." If people can always count on you, that means you are dependable. The adjective dependable can also mean consistent in performance or behavior, like a dependable car that always starts and rarely needs service or a dependable actor who always does a great job, regardless of the role. Dependable can also be used to describe something that is financially sound, like an investment that brings profit with little risk.
Vocabulary lists containing dependable
Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume
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Words to Describe a Friend
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Cover Letter Language
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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.
Clinkunbroomer was described by colleagues as a smart and dependable guy often assigned to teach others how to do various jobs at work.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
Such monitoring could improve space weather forecasting and contribute to safer, more dependable satellite operations in the future.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026
"Patients across north Wales have waited far too long for safe, timely and dependable healthcare, while dedicated front-line staff have been repeatedly let down by failures of leadership and governance."
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
“He had a dependable image,” one of them said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
I see that when we go underground the clean, dependable lines of the street plan are interlaced with a twisting, turning mess of tunnels.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
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.
