Word
dependent
Phoneticsde·pen·dent, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈpɛndənt/
UK/dɪpˈɛndənt/
Definitions
01relying on someone
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. needing someone or something else for help, support, or money.
adj. relying on or requiring the aid or support of another person or thing for survival or operation.
“The small island is heavily dependent on tourism for its income.”
“The local economy remains dangerously dependent on a single manufacturing plant, leaving the community vulnerable to global market fluctuations.”
Pitfall
The success is dependent of the weather.
The success is dependent on the weather.
The adjective 'dependent' always takes the preposition 'on' or 'upon', never 'of'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02affected by something else
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. decided or changed by something else that happens.
adj. contingent upon or determined by another factor or event.
“Our plans for the picnic are dependent on the weather tomorrow.”
“The final approval of the merger is dependent on the company meeting several strict environmental and safety regulations.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03statistics
C1 · Advanced Mathematics Technical
adj. in math, when the result of one thing changes the chance of another thing happening.
adj. describing a variable or event whose probability or value is influenced by the outcome of another.
“The two events are dependent, so the first result changes the second one.”
“In this statistical model, the dependent variable represents the growth rate, which we measure against several independent environmental factors.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04medicine
C2 · Proficiency Medicine Technical
adj. describes a part of the body that is lower than the heart.
adj. referring to a body part positioned lower than the heart, where fluid tends to collect due to gravity.
“The patient had swelling in their dependent limbs after standing all day.”
“The physician noted significant dependent oedema in the patient's lower legs, likely exacerbated by prolonged periods of sitting without elevation.”
05a person you support
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Law
n. a person, like a child, who depends on you for money and a home.
n. a person who relies on another for financial support, often used in legal or tax contexts.
“He has three dependents, including two young children and his elderly father.”
“The insurance policy provides comprehensive coverage for the primary holder as well as any legal dependents living in the same household.”
Usage
In British English, the noun is often spelled 'dependant', while the adjective is 'dependent'.
Teaching tip
In American English, 'dependent' is used for both the noun and adjective. In British English, the 'ant' ending is the standard for the person.
Synonyms
06grammar
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Science Technical
n. a word or phrase that adds information to a main word.
n. an element in a phrase or clause that is not the head, such as a modifier or a complement.
“In the phrase 'very tall', the word 'very' is a dependent of 'tall'.”
“The structural analysis of the sentence requires identifying the head of each phrase and its associated dependents to determine the hierarchy.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “dependent” in context.
Adjective
01. entirely dependent
“The success of the project is entirely dependent on the weather conditions.”
adv + adj
02. heavily dependent
“The local economy is heavily dependent on the tourism industry.”
adv + adj
03. highly dependent
“Plants are highly dependent on sunlight to produce their own food.”
adv + adj
04. largely dependent
“Your grade is largely dependent on your performance in the final exam.”
adv + adj
05. strongly dependent
“The outcome of the experiment is strongly dependent on the temperature of the room.”
adv + adj
06. totally dependent
“Newborn babies are totally dependent on their parents for survival.”
adv + adj
Real-World Examples
“Many deals are dependent on conditions such as a minimum amount of money into your account in the first few weeks, or minimum number of direct debits leaving it.” “Although Joyce helped him build his empire, her finances are dependent on him.” Etymology
From Middle English dependaunt, dependent, from Middle French dependant (present participle of dependre (“to depend”)) and Latin dēpendēns (present participle of dēpendeō (“to depend”)). By surface analysis, depend + -ent.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domains
- 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
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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