Word
depend
Phoneticsde·pend, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈpɛnd/
UK/dɪpˈɛnd/
Definitions
01to be decided by something else
A2 · Elementary
v. to be decided or changed by something else.
v. to be contingent on or determined by something else. This sense is intransitive and almost always followed by the preposition 'on'.
“Whether we go for a picnic will depend on the weather tomorrow.”
“The success of the merger will depend on how effectively the two corporate cultures can be integrated over the next fiscal year.”
Usage
Usually followed by 'on' or 'upon' before a noun or a clause starting with 'whether', 'how', or 'what'.
Pitfall
The price depends of the size.
The price depends on the size.
In English, we always use 'depend on' or 'depend upon', never 'depend of'.
Synonyms
02to rely on someone
B1 · Intermediate
v. to trust someone or something to help you or do what is needed.
v. to rely on or place trust in someone or something for support or success.
“You can always depend on her to arrive exactly on time.”
“Small businesses often depend on local community support to survive during periods of economic instability.”
Usage
Takes the preposition 'on' or 'upon'.
Antonyms
03to hang down
C2 · Proficiency Literary
v. to hang down from something above.
v. to hang down or be suspended from a point above.
Español:pender
“A heavy gold medal depended from a silk ribbon around his neck.”
“The ancient chandelier depended from the vaulted ceiling by a rusted iron chain that looked ready to snap.”
Teaching tip
This literal, physical sense is rare in modern speech; learners will mostly encounter it in 19th-century literature or technical descriptions of heraldry.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “depend” in context.
Confusables
Depend describes a logical or physical necessity where one thing is controlled by another, while rely emphasizes a personal sense of trust or confidence in someone's support.
RememberDepend is for needs; rely is for trust.
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/depend
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0