depend
dih-PEHND
Depend (verb) means to rely on someone or something for support, help, or a particular outcome. Example: “Many villagers depend on the local well for their drinking water.”
verb
1
To rely on someone or something for support, help, or a particular outcome.
"Many villagers depend on the local well for their drinking water."
"The whole plan depends on good weather."
"Children depend on their parents for almost everything in early life."
2
To vary according to circumstances; used to say an answer isn't fixed.
"Whether we go hiking will depend on how much it rains tomorrow."
"How long the journey takes depends on the traffic."
""Will you come?" "It depends on whether I can get the day off.""
How to use depend
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo rely on something, or for an outcome to be uncertain until something else is known.
Memory tip
Always followed by "on" or "upon" when talking about relying on someone or something: "depend on," not just "depend."
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
depend on
depends on the situation
heavily dependent
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- depends
- Past tense
- depended
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Many villagers _____ on the local well for their drinking water.
Etymology
From Old French dependre and Latin dependere, literally "to hang from" (de- "down from" + pendere "to hang").
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “depend” mean?
The word “depend” means to rely on someone or something for support, help, or a particular outcome. In plain terms, to rely on something, or for an outcome to be uncertain until something else is known.
How do you pronounce “depend”?
“Depend” is pronounced dih-PEHND (/dɪˈpɛnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “depend” in a sentence?
Here is “depend” used in a sentence: “The whole plan depends on good weather.”
What part of speech is “depend”?
“Depend” is a verb.
Where does the word “depend” come from?
The word “depend” comes from Latin. From Old French dependre and Latin dependere, literally "to hang from" (de- "down from" + pendere "to hang").
Is “depend” a common word?
“Depend” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “depend” have?
“Depend” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to rely on someone or something for support, help, or a particular outcome.
What is the difference between "depend on" and "depend upon"?
There is no difference in meaning; both mean to rely on someone or something. "Depend upon" is slightly more formal and old-fashioned, while "depend on" is the more common, everyday choice. Depend almost always takes a preposition and is rarely used alone.
What is the difference between depend and rely?
Both mean to count on someone or something for support. Depend can suggest a stronger need, even helplessness, as a child depends on parents, while rely often stresses trust or confidence that something will be there when needed. In many sentences they are interchangeable.
Which preposition follows depend?
Depend is normally followed by "on" or "upon," as in "depend on the weather." It is not used with "of." The main exception is the fixed reply "it depends," where the preposition is left off.
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