Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

depend

/dɪˈpɛnd/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.20 in modern English

Syllables: de-pend
IPA: /dɪˈpɛnd/

10

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To be contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition

Intransitive verb

verb

To trust; to have confidence; to rely.

Intransitive verb

verb

To hang down; to be sustained by being fastened or attached to something above, especially in heraldry, where a badge, decoration, or element is suspended from another part of an achievement of arms.

Literary

verb

To be pending; to be undetermined or undecided.

Archaic

verb

To cause to be contingent or dependent on; to set as a necessity.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"We would like to go skiing, but it depends on the amount of snow."
"Gold don't carry any curse with it. It all depends on whether or not the guy who finds it is the right guy. The way I see it, gold can be as much of a blessing as a curse"
"There's not much room for error in the unforgiving Arctic wilderness, where hunters' lives depend on skill, experience, and a buddy's helping hand."
"we should all be able to depend on the word or assurance of our friends"
"we depend on the mailman to come at the usual time."
""It's another wedding present, you may depend," Dicky said—"a beastly surprise, I shouldn't wonder.""

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h₁ Proto-Indo-European *déh₁ Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē- Proto-Indo-European *(s)pend- Proto-Indo-European *(s)pn̥d-éh₁ye-ti Proto-Italic *pendējō Proto-Italic *pendēō Latin pendeō Latin dependeōder. Old French dependreder. Middle English dependen English depend Inherited from Middle English dependen, from Old French dependre, from Latin dependeō, from dē- + pendeō (“to be suspended, hang”). In this sense, displaced native Old English hangian (“to hang or depend”).

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /dɪˈpɛnd/
British English: /dɪˈpɛnd/

Usage

Inflected Forms

depends (present, singular) depending (participle, present) depended (participle, past) depended (past)

Derived Forms

dependability dependable dependance dependancy dependant dependee dependence dependency dependent depender dependible dependingly

Phrases

as if one's life depends on it depending on depends who's asking it depends like one's life depended on it where you stand depends on where you sit

Frequently Paired Words

depending

Synonyms

hinge on ride pivot count bet swear rely bank look calculate reckon

Rhymes With

end high-end friend send dead-end spend recommend tend attend trend defend extend

Questions

How do you pronounce depend?: The recorded pronunciation is /dɪˈpɛnd/.
What does depend mean?: To be contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition
Where does depend come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h₁ Proto-Indo-European *déh₁ Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē- Proto-Indo-European *(s)pend- Proto-Indo-European *(s)pn̥d-éh₁ye-ti Proto-Italic *pendējō Proto-Italic *pendēō Latin pendeō Latin dependeōder. Old French dependreder. Middle English dependen English depend Inherited from Middle English dependen, from Old French dependre, from Latin dependeō, from dē- + pendeō (“to be suspended, hang”). In this sense, displaced native Old English hangian (“to hang or depend”).

How to pronounce depend

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “depend”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/dɪˈpɛnd/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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