depend

A2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /dɪˈpɛnd/ UK /dɪˈpɛnd/ See IPA manual

verb Freq #4994

Meanings

1

verb
To be affected or decided by something else.

Whether we go skiing depends on how much snow there is.
2

verb
To trust or rely on someone or something for help or support.

You can always depend on her to keep a secret.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to be affected or decided... hinge on

2 verb · to trust or rely on someone... bet

Word family

Forms dependeddependingdepends

Derived forms dependability dependabledependancydependantdependeedependence dependent dependerdependinglyinterdependundepending

Related forms depending

Etymology

From Middle English dependen, from Old French dependre and Latin dependeō, from Latin dē- + pendeō (“to hang”). In this sense, displaced native Old English hangian (“to hang or depend”).

*(s)pend- Proto-Indo-European dependen Middle English dependre Old French dependeō Latin dē- Latin

View etymology graph ->

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Actions & Processes

# depend

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** dɪˈpɛnd
**IPA (UK):** dɪˈpɛnd
**Frequency rank:** 4994

## Meanings
1. To be affected or decided by something else.
2. To trust or rely on someone or something for help or support.

## Examples
- Whether we go skiing depends on how much snow there is.
- You can always depend on her to keep a secret.

## Derived Forms
- dependability
- dependable
- dependancy
- dependant
- dependee
- dependence
- dependent
- depender
- dependingly
- interdepend
- undepending

## Related Forms
- depending

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *(s)pend-
- Root: dependen
- Root: dependre
- Root: dependeō
- Root: dē-

## Etymology
From Middle English dependen, from Old French dependre and Latin dependeō, from Latin dē- + pendeō (“to hang”). In this sense, displaced native Old English hangian (“to hang or depend”).

## AI Etymology
depend comes from Middle English dependen, from Old French dependre and Latin dependeō, from Latin dē- + pendeō (“to hang”). In this sense, displaced native Old English hangian (“to hang or depend”). The historical chain includes Proto-Indo-European *(s)pend-, Middle English dependen, Old French dependre, Latin dependeō, Latin dē-. Current senses include to be affected or decided by something else and to trust or rely on someone or something for help or support. English relatives and later formations include dependability, dependable, dependancy, depending.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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depend

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