Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

dependable

American  
[dih-pen-duh-buhl] / dɪˈpɛn də bəl /

adjective

  1. An image of the word dependable as defined by capable of being depended on; worthy of trust; reliable.

    capable of being depended on; worthy of trust; reliable.

    a dependable employee.

    Synonyms:
    responsible, faithful, steadfast, trusty, trustworthy

dependable British  
/ dɪˈpɛndəbəl /

adjective

  1. able to be depended on; reliable; trustworthy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of dependable

First recorded in 1725–35; depend + -able


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.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing dependable

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.

See Examples For:

PepsiCo PEP 2.42%increase; up pointing triangle used to embody everything investors prized in a stock: dependable brands, reliable earnings growth and steady returns.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026

A 10-year Treasury yielding more than 5% starts looking awfully attractive to retirees, pension funds, insurers, foreign institutions and anyone else searching for dependable income.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

Naval Academy, having deemed GPS dependable, stopped teaching midshipmen celestial navigation—the discipline of fixing a ship’s position based on timed sightings of the sun and the stars.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026

According to the researchers, those results illustrate how optical computation could provide a more secure and dependable foundation for some artificial intelligence systems.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026

She was exceedingly fond of Telemachus, not only because he was her dear Odysseus’ son, but because he was a sober, discreet young man, steady and prudent and dependable.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training