Depend

Quick meaning: Depend is a verb meaning (intransitive) To be contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition [with on or upon; or (obsolete) with of].

Meaning

(intransitive) To be contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition [with on or upon; or (obsolete) with of].

More Meanings

1. (intransitive) To trust; to have confidence; to rely. [with on or upon (usually)]
2. (transitive) To cause to be contingent or dependent on; to set as a necessity.
3. (now literary, heraldry) To hang down; to be sustained by being fastened or attached to something above, especially in heraldry, where a badge, decoration, or element is suspended from another part of an achievement of arms.
4. (archaic) To be pending; to be undetermined or undecided.

Example Sentences

we depend on the mailman to come at the usual time.

We would like to go skiing, but it depends on the amount of snow.

we should all be able to depend on the word or assurance of our friends

He had prepared a sort of collar of leather with many straps depending from it.

Word Forms

• depends
• depending
• depended

Synonyms for depend

Depending on context, synonyms include ride, pivot.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include rely, trust, entrust, accredit, function, approve.

Related Dictionary Tools