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

Mark Taylor, CEO of the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority North West, told the BBC: "The incident led to a delay in the fishers being able to derive an income from the bed".

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

The government is requiring all new data centers to derive at least 80% of their power from renewables.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

In contrast, the other family, which doesn't derive its income from AI or the tech world, had to instead move to a more suburban Bay Area town to the north.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

Probabilities, arguments of credibility, circumstances of likelihoods—these all derive from Evidence-Indices.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Executives say loyal customers—the firm derives about 55% of monthly revenue from repeat buyers—have come along for the ride.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026

This equal four-step pattern is where the technique derives its name.

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026

“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

Sao Tome and Principe derives most of its resources from agriculture, particularly the production of cocoa and coffee, as well as vanilla and pepper.

From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026

Musically, Parsifal derives much of its seductive power from Wagner’s frequent disruption of the listener’s expectations.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Mesenchymal stem cell therapies and extracellular vesicles derived from these cells may also provide broad immune-regulating effects.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026

One key objection was the mature tone of the narrative, in which the child protagonist is directly confronted and endangered by the evils derived from fascist ideologies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

That goal has become increasingly practical because plant-based and animal-free sources of vitamin D3 are now available, including D3 derived from lichen.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026

But she was treated with heparin, an anticoagulant derived from intestinal tissue of pigs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

Other tributaries swelled his happiness; he still derived satisfaction from the thought of his first—the best in his year he was told.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

"Our study lays the groundwork for deriving the most accurate information possible about the silicon dioxide content of Mercury's surface from BepiColombo's measurements," said Christian Renggli.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 12, 2026

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

Since many of our waking hours are spent on the job, Ms. Vanderkam also focuses on deriving more satisfaction from work to avoid “wishing time away.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026

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

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 27, 2026

Perhaps it is a tribute to the origin of the word “circus,” deriving from the Greek kirkos meaning circle, or ring.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Related Words

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