verb

depend

dih-PEHND

verb

To rely on someone or something for support, help, or a particular outcome.

"The whole plan depends on good weather."

"Children depend on their parents for almost everything in early life."

To vary according to circumstances; used to say an answer isn't fixed.

""Will you come?" "It depends on whether I can get the day off.""

How to Use Depend

Learner’s notes

In 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."

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Common pairings

depend on depends on the situation heavily dependent

depended past tense, depends singular

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The whole plan _____ on good weather.

From Old French dependre and Latin dependere, literally "to hang from" (de- "down from" + pendere "to hang").