depend
verb (used without object)
to rely; place trust (usually followed by on orupon ).
had depended
-
past perfectof depend.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Previously, Athenian military enterprise had depended on a small elite, men wealthy enough to provide horses to serve as cavalry or to equip themselves as hoplites, a type of armored infantry.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 8, 2026
The 25-year-old widow, who had depended on her husband as the breadwinner, now has three young children to care for.
From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2024
Until then, he had depended on clothes given to him, she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2023
Others, like Alexeev, said their ability to make it out perhaps had depended on nothing more than the person manning the Ukrainian exit booth.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 9, 2022
Among the stuff reported to the class was a list of the countries that had depended on oracles to help the rulers decide how to run things.
From "The Egypt Game" by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
