derive

American  

[dih-rahyv] / dɪˈraɪv /

verb (used with object)

• derives,
  present (3rd person singular)
• derived,
  past participle,  past
• deriving
  present participle

1. to receive or obtain from a source or origin (usually followed byfrom ).

   Synonyms:

   net, reap, gather, glean, attain, gain

2. to trace from a source or origin.

   English words derived from German.

3. to reach or obtain by reasoning; deduce; infer.

4. Chemistry. to produce or obtain (a substance) from another.

5. Grammar. to create (a new linguistic form) by adding affixes to or changing the shape of a root or base.

   The word “runner” is derived from “run.”

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verb (used without object)

• derives,
  present (3rd person singular)
• derived,
  past participle,  past
• deriving
  present participle

1. to come from a source or origin; originate (often followed byfrom ).

derive British  

/ dɪˈraɪv /

verb

1. (usually foll by from) to draw or be drawn (from) in source or origin; trace or be traced

2. (tr) to obtain by reasoning; deduce; infer

3. (tr) to trace the source or development of

4. (usually foll by from) to produce or be produced (from) by a chemical reaction

5. maths to obtain (a function) by differentiation

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• deriver
  noun
• prederive
  verb (used with object)
• derivable
  adjective
• nonderivable
  adjective
• underivable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• deriving
  present
• derived
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• derive
  simple
• derives
  simple
• have derived
  perfect
• has derived
  perfect
• am deriving
  progressive
• are deriving
  progressive
• is deriving
  progressive
• have been deriving
  perfect progressive
• has been deriving
  perfect progressive

Past

• derived
  simple
• had derived
  perfect
• was deriving
  progressive
• were deriving
  progressive
• had been deriving
  perfect progressive

Future

• will derive
  simple
• will have derived
  perfect
• will be deriving
  progressive
• will have been deriving
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of derive

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English diriven, deriven “to flow, draw from, spring,” from Anglo-French, Old French deriver, from Latin dērīvāre “to lead off,” equivalent to dē- de- + rīv(us) “a stream” + -āre infinitive suffix

Explanation

If you want to talk about something that comes from something else, but you want to sound sophisticated and maybe financial or scientific, use derive, like so: That scent? It's derived from a solution of roses boiled with toothpicks. The word derive derives from (see how we did that?) the Latin rivus or stream, as in water. That image of the stream may help you remember the meaning of derive; you may picture tracing tiny streams back to their main source. Derive is a verb, as you can see, but it's often in the news in the noun form derivative: something that is derived from something else, as in "juice is a derivative of an orange."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

derive derives derived deriving

Some derive from history, as when he relates the lengthy process by which Charles Darwin decided whether or not to propose marriage to Emma Wedgwood.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

It is worth remembering that the book’s insights derive from self-reported data.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

While Europe may derive some satisfaction from moderate growth of 3%, alarm bells will be ringing at who is benefiting.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026

Whatever the precise reasons for the breaks, and whether they are needed physically or not, Jagielka feels coaches can derive huge benefits from them, especially if a team is underperforming.

From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026

Instead, they called the city Rhakotis, which might refer to some preexisting Egyptian village on that location, or derive from the term ra-qed, the generic term for “building site.”

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro

“I genuinely see Iran’s relationship with the axis as one of interdependence. It derives some of its strength, information and access to global markets through these different groups,” Salisbury said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

"The Fifa World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all Confederations and the world's leading football nations," it said.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

HouseCanary, in turn, derives its listings from multiple-listing services, a vast network of local organizations that agents use to share homes for sale with each other.

From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026

The film derives its title from the girl’s interest in “Little Irène,” a painting by influential French impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026

Longstreet caught the conclusion of Sorrel’s sentence. ”... know that government derives its power from the consent of the governed.

From "The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War" by Michael Shaara

The answers are derived from the scenario details below.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

His channel, Aeris Rimor -- roughly derived from the Latin for Searcher of the Skies -- is one of dozens sending real-time messages about incoming drones and missiles.

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

These catalogs are designed to make specialized scientific investigations easier by organizing and enhancing information derived from the main survey data.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026

"Instead of soil, we pack these containers with a specialized coco-peat substrate derived entirely from coconut husk. We then integrate a highly precise drip-irrigation and fogging system to control micro-climates."

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

The mine had a lot of the solvent derived from coal tar, but it was too volatile.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

The sticky part is deciding how the benefits deriving from pathogens are defined and then shared, how the system is governed, and how equity is guaranteed.

From Barron's ● Jun. 15, 2026

A year ago, 13% of S&P 500 index constituents noted benefits deriving from AI adoption.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 27, 2026

Meece said the city’s various appeals were aimed at deriving accurate maps.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2025

The imagery which depicted gods, goddesses, supreme preachers and enlightened souls of three ancient religions - Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism - was reimagined from symbolic to more recognisably deriving from human form.

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2025

After a while he fell asleep, and she lay there holding his head, deriving a small but important comfort, even faintly smiling as she stared at the ceiling.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Related Words

• acquire
• assume
• collect
• determine
• develop
• evolve
• extract
• glean
• infer
• obtain
• receive