derive
Americanverb (used with object)
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derives,
present (3rd person singular)
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derived,
past participle, past
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deriving
present participle
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to receive or obtain from a source or origin (usually followed byfrom ).
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to trace from a source or origin.
English words derived from German.
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Chemistry. to produce or obtain (a substance) from another.
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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.”
verb (used without object)
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derives,
present (3rd person singular)
-
derived,
past participle, past
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deriving
present participle
verb
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(usually foll by from) to draw or be drawn (from) in source or origin; trace or be traced
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(tr) to obtain by reasoning; deduce; infer
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(tr) to trace the source or development of
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(usually foll by from) to produce or be produced (from) by a chemical reaction
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maths to obtain (a function) by differentiation
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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derivernoun
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prederiveverb (used with object)
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derivableadjective
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nonderivableadjective
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underivableadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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derivesimple
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derivessimple
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have derivedperfect
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has derivedperfect
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am derivingprogressive
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are derivingprogressive
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is derivingprogressive
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have been derivingperfect progressive
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has been derivingperfect progressive
Past
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derivedsimple
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had derivedperfect
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was derivingprogressive
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were derivingprogressive
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had been derivingperfect progressive
Future
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."
Vocabulary lists containing derive
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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"On Women's Right to Vote" by Susan B. Anthony
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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.
See Examples For:
Warsh has spoken at length about not trying to guide traders so as to derive a better signal about the economy from financial markets.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
As many as 30% of current schizophrenic patients derive little benefit from antipsychotic medication.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
This is ultimately due to the fact that British prime ministers derive power from commanding the confidence of the House of Commons, where Labour enjoys a massive majority.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
The Labor Department numbers, which also include public-sector jobs, derive from a monthly survey of hundreds of thousands of employers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026
Even he could derive little satisfaction from the prospect of killing a tharn rabbit half his own size, in obedience to a contemptuous taunt.
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
"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
Reuters, which like Politico derives much of its revenue from business-to-business offerings, said it is also weighing whether to block Google’s bot for its consumer-facing news product as traffic declines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 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
Mostly the comedy in “The Sheep Detectives” derives from slapstick high jinks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026
But their real power derives from the fact that the reviews are the reports of volunteers — of diners who want to share their opinions with others.
From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell
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
The legislation expanded the medical and scientific use of cannabinoids derived from plants or produced synthetically.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 6, 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
Chey’s wealth is derived from his shares of the SK conglomerate’s holding company.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Three-quarters of his vocabulary is derived from these regions, and they give an intimate flavour to expressions of his greatest joy as well as of his deepest indignation.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
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
I asked, terrified at the unexpected sound, and incapable now of deriving from any occurrence a hope of aid.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
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.
