interjection
depends
dih-PEHNDZ
interjection
1
Used on its own as a short answer meaning the outcome is uncertain or conditional — a clipped form of "it depends."
""Are you coming to the party?" "Depends. What time does it start?""
How to Use Depends
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA quick way of saying "that depends on other factors" instead of giving a firm yes or no.
When to use it
Informal spoken usage; in writing you would normally spell out "it depends."
Common pairings
depends on the day
depends who you ask
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Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
"Are you coming to the party?" "_____. What time does it start?"