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.
Kate Hardcastle, consumer expert at Insight with Passion, said Fisher broke industry norms by making everyday style feel "clear, democratic and dependable".
From BBC • May 5, 2026
“A financially sound and dependable Fannie Mae is essential to the long-term health of the housing and mortgage markets.”
From Barron's • May 1, 2026
In a kitchen that’s otherwise a little improvisational, it’s my anchor: dependable, durable, and always up for whatever I decide to make.
From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026
Healthcare jobs are now the most reliable ticket to the middle class after automation, globalization and now AI have destabilized other formerly dependable routes, such as factory and office work.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
By 1914, when Endurance set sail from London, dependable and accurate chronometers were every skipper's constant companions.
From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong
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.
