Word
dependable
Phoneticsde·pend·able
US/dɪˈpɛndəbəɫ/
UK/dɪpˈɛndəbəl/
Definition
adj. reliable and steady. You can trust this person or thing to do what they are supposed to do every time.
adj. consistently reliable in performance or character. Often used to describe employees, machinery, or vehicles that function without failure.
Examples
“She is a dependable worker who never misses a deadline.”
“The old truck is not very fast, but it is dependable enough for short trips around the farm.”
“In an era of volatile markets, investors often seek out dependable assets that provide modest but steady returns regardless of economic shifts.”
Examples
simple
“She is a dependable worker who never misses a deadline.”
contextual
“The old truck is not very fast, but it is dependable enough for short trips around the farm.”
complex
“In an era of volatile markets, investors often seek out dependable assets that provide modest but steady returns regardless of economic shifts.”
Usage
Typically used both attributively before a noun and predicatively after linking verbs like 'be' or 'seem'.
Real-World Examples
“In a year of globe-trotting, the Indian prime minister has secured deals around the world as the United States becomes less dependable.” “After Hurricane Maria in 2017, parts of the island went nearly five months without dependable service.” “The lakeshore offered fresh water, edible plants, animals for hunting, raw materials for tools, and a dependable source of firewood needed to maintain fires.” “Offshore wind is more dependable but it involves large, site-specific engineering projects that cannot be replicated in the same way, and so have not seen the same sustained falls in cost.” Etymology
From depend + -able.
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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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